A behaviour change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: To document the experiences of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who underwent a behaviour change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) in a clinical trial.

Design and participants: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore perspectives of the behaviour change intervention and specific intervention components in people with stable COPD on the waitlist for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Setting: Three outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in Sydney, Australia.

Interventions: The six-week behaviour change intervention with once weekly contact with a physiotherapist aimed to reduce SB by replacing it with light-intensity physical activity (PA) and by breaking up prolonged SB.

Main outcome measures: Of 30 participants who completed the behaviour change intervention, interviews were conducted with 13 participants and analysed using the 'capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour (COM-B)' framework of behaviour change.

Results: Intervention components regarded as most helpful by participants were verbal education on health consequences on SB, goal setting, and self-monitoring of, and feedback on, step count using activity trackers. There was a clear preference during goal setting to increase PA rather than to reduce SB. Physical limitations and enjoyment of SB were the most reported barriers to reducing SB.

Conclusions: Goal setting, verbal education, and self-monitoring of, and feedback on step count, were viewed positively by people with COPD and may show promise for reducing SB and increasing PA based on individual preference. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.

Keywords: Behavioural medicine; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Qualitative; Sedentary behaviour.