Digital applications in pulmonary rehabilitation: preliminary evaluation of a hybrid program for the continuity of care

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of comorbidities and death worldwide. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a comprehensive intervention proven effective in improving COPD patients' quality of life. However, its benefits often decrease with time because of low motivation, lack of direct surveillance, and low self-awareness. In this scenario, digital technologies can play a key role by allowing more engaging protocols and enabling home-based programs. The cooperation between clinical and technology experts is crucial to develop protocols that are effective and well-accepted by patients. This work aimed at developing and testing a hybrid PR program for patients with COPD based on digital applications that allow the personalization of the intervention, and support the delivery of healthcare services also in the context of continuity of care. Our protocol proved able to improve the patients' condition, as traditional programs do, paving the way for the adoption of such technologies in the clinical practice.