A pilot study on the effectiveness of a language-specific (Chinese) pulmonary rehabilitation programme for individuals with chronic pulmonary disease: a 2-year prospective cohort study in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Background and Aims: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves dyspnoea, fatigue and healthcare-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic lung disease (CLD). Non-English-speaking background (NESB) patients face language and cultural barriers that hinder their access to PR programmes, contributing to health disparities. Our trial aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of a Chinese language-specific PR programme on lung function, functional exercise capacity and QoL measures. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted over a 2-year period. Participants were enrolled in an 8-week PR programme with biweekly sessions conducted by Chinese-speaking physiotherapists. Baseline and post-rehabilitation testing included pulmonary function testing, 6-min walk test (6MWT), St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGQR) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: We enrolled 76 patients (58% male) with a median age of 77 years (interquartile range (IQR) 68–81) and achieved a completion rate of 86.8% (n = 66). CLD included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (42%), asthma (15%) and interstitial lung disease (3%). Baseline median forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 1.63 L (IQR 1.17–2.05), and the median 6MWT was 282 m (IQR 232–332). Post-intervention median 6MWT increased to 332 m (IQR 290–390), and the median FEV1 was 1.99 L (IQR 1.3–2.1). Both QoL measures (SGQR and SF-36) showed significant improvement after intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that a language-specific PR programme is feasible, improving outcomes in NESB patients with CLD. The improvement in 6MWT and QoL measures was comparable to English-based programmes. Ensuring equal access to healthcare programmes, regardless of cultural background or language barriers, is crucial in promoting health equity.