The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a well established field exercise test to assess the functional exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to assess the impact of walking behind the patient on 6MWT distance in patients with COPD.
In a single-center, randomized crossover study, the investigators aim to elucidate whether there is a difference in the 6MWT distance when the assessor walks behind the patient compared to the patient walking alone. Patients with COPD referred for pulmonary rehabilitation will be invited to perform an accompanied 6MWT (assessor walks behind the patient) and unaccompanied 6MWT (assessor does not walk behind the patient) in random order. The tests will be performed at the end of a pulmonary rehabilitation program, after patients are familiarised with the 6MWT testing procedure and learning effects can be excluded.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
49
Assessor walks behind the patient
Assessor does not walk behind the patient
Berner Rehazentrum AG
Heiligenschwendi, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Exercise capacity
Difference in six minute walk test distance between the two experimental conditions (in meter)
Time frame: During pulmonary rehabilitation, approximately 14 days
Six minute walk test
Difference in patient reported perception during the two different walking tests assessed with a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 5 questions with five response categories: 1=not at all; 2 = somewhat; 3=modestly; 4=strongly; 5= very strongly
Time frame: During pulmonary rehabilitation, approximately 14 days
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