Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40440329›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Health inequity: Possibilities of initiating pulmonary telerehabilitation programs for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders in conflict and low-resourced areas; A mixed-method phenomenological study.

Suad J Ghaben, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Badr Elkholi, Reem Kullab, Majd Al-Hour, Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Suad J GhabenPhysiotherapy Programme & Center for Healthy Ageing & Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8653-5249
Arimi Fitri Mat LudinBiomedical Science Programme & Center for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1517-2115
Badr ElkholiDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Reem KullabPhysiotherapy department, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine.
Majd Al-HourPhysiotherapy department, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine.
Devinder Kaur Ajit SinghPhysiotherapy Programme & Center for Healthy Ageing & Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe "triple problems of COPD"-underdiagnosis, underrecognition, and underdevelopment of pulmonary rehabilitation programs-are global. Pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) may solve these problems. This study aims to explore the possibility of launching PTR programs for adults in an area of conflict and low resources.

methodsA mixed methods convergent design was used to understand outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) unavailability. The medical records of 70 patients with COPD in the Ministry of Health (MoH) chest unit were analysed quantitatively. thirteen patients who received in-hospital physiotherapy were questioned via a structured and validated questionnaire, and 12 healthcare professionals (HCPs) were interviewed. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively, and inferentially by the SPSS, outlining the means, standard deviations and percentages, and the chi-square, respectively. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically using the NVivo software, and five themes and 25 subthemes were identified. A thematic framework and triangulation model were depicted accordingly.

resultsSeventy patients with a mean age of 65.3 ± 1.65 years and a mean hospital stay of 4.89 ± 0.392 days were managed with no admission, Physiotherapy (PT) referral, or discharge criteria. Patients reported needing outpatient PR (4.38 ± 1.193) and a willingness to adopt (3.77 ± .832). Interviews with HCP highlighted the environmental and professional challenges, opportunities, and PTR traits. Quantitative and qualitative data triangulation led to the COPD Sequential Triad (CST) theory.

conclusionThis study identified the national, institutional, and professional challenges and opportunities of launching PTR programs in conflict and low-resourced areas, including the conflict's consequences, insufficient resources, and absence of a structured healthcare system and clinical practice guidelines. Promoting health equity in such areas necessitates that the international community and institutions isolate the healthcare sector from conflicts and apply more effective strategies. The study also illustrated the characteristics of the intended PTR programs, including mHealth, therapeutic devices, and hybrid programs along with supporting professional organizations' guidelines.

Indexed as

Healthcare DisparitiesPulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveTelerehabilitationAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID40440329
PMCPMC12121761

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.