Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on self-efficacy, quality of life, and exercise tolerance

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate changes in psychological, physiological, and behavioral-performance variables as a fu nction of pulmonary exercise rehabilitation. Study Design and Participants: Forty patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were recruited for participation in a 12-week outpatient pulmonary rehabil itation program. Measures: Measures included 6-min walking distance (exerci se tolerance), 6-min walking distance self-efficacy, overall quality of lif e, dyspnea, fatigue, and emotional function. Results: Results revealed sign ificant improvements over the course of the program in each of these measur es, regardless of disease severity. In addition, improvements in exercise t olerance were significantly associated with increases in self-efficacy, whi ch, in turn, were significantly related to improved quality of life. Conclu sions: The results support the tenets of social-cognitive theory and sugges t that participation in an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program can provide both physiological and psychological benefits for individuals with COPD.