Abstract

PURPOSE
This study is aimed to analyze the trend of research on pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and to suggest a direction for future research of pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD.
METHOD
A total of 39 studies published from 1991 to 2002 were examined according to the year of publication, type of journal, characteristics of patients, rehabilitation program, research design, and instruments and research findings.
RESULTS
1) The number of studies related to pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD patients has rapidly increased since 1996's (87.18%) 2) There were 10 studies published in the chest. There were 6 studies published in domestic journals and 33 studies published in international journals. 3) The samples in the studies were mostly outpatients whose lung function was moderate. 4) The total period of the pulmonary rehabilitation program shown in the literature was 5 to 12 weeks. The programs included exercise interventions, educational interventions and psychosocial interventions. 5) The outcomes of the pulmonary rehabilitation were measured with lung function, 6-minute walk test, dyspnea, and chronic respiratory disease questionnaire. Research findings were found to be effective on 6-minute walk test, dyspnea, and chronic respiratory disease questionnaire but not on lung function.
CONCLUSION
Based on these findings, pulmonary rehabilitation should be further emphasized, and standardized protocols and community based pulmonary rehabilitation programs need to be provided. More qualitative research should also be conducted in the future to describe the experiences of the pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with COPD.