The research, which was presented at a respiratory symposium in Ireland this week, compared two groups of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); one group who received a structured pulmonary rehabilitation education programme and another group which received the usual care.

The results suggest that people with COPD who attended an eight-week programme delivered by practice nurses and physiotherapists were far better able to manage their condition and symptoms than those who did not attend.

Professor Kathy Murphy from the School of Nursing at NUI Galway, said: “Our study found that a community-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme facilitated by trained physiotherapists and practice nurses who had no prior COPD expertise, is feasible, safe, and effective. Not only that, but it makes a real difference to patients with moderate-to-severe COPD by improving their dyspnoea and physical functioning.”

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