Autonomy-Supportive Intervention Enhances Adherence in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Remote Pulmonary Rehabilitation

A new study from Jiangnan University in Wuxi, People's Republic of China, has demonstrated that an autonomy-supportive intervention can effectively enhance autonomy support and maintain adherence in remote pulmonary rehabilitation among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research, published in Age and Ageing, a journal from Oxford University Press, aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an autonomy-supportive framework in remote pulmonary rehabilitation and assess its impact on adherence and autonomy support.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 92 older adults diagnosed with COPD, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 46) or a control group (n = 46).
• The intervention group received a 12-week remote pulmonary rehabilitation intervention based on an autonomy-supportive framework, while the control group received standard remote pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Participants in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in autonomy support following the intervention (P ≤ 0.01).
• The research concluded that an autonomy-supportive intervention effectively enhanced autonomy support and maintained adherence in remote pulmonary rehabilitation among older adults with COPD.

Statistics:

• 92 older adults diagnosed with COPD enrolled in the 24-week randomized controlled trial.
• 46 participants were assigned to the intervention group and received a 12-week remote pulmonary rehabilitation intervention based on an autonomy-supportive framework.
• Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in autonomy support (P ≤ 0.01).
• The intervention group maintained adherence in remote pulmonary rehabilitation, which was not observed in the control group.

Sources:

• "A feasibility study of an autonomy-supportive intervention in remote pulmonary rehabilitation for older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." Age and Ageing, 2025;54(10).
• Oxford University Press. "Age and Ageing." Reveiwed online at www.oup.com/aging.
• Oxford Univ Press. "Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England" (contact information for Age and Ageing publisher).
• Jiangnan University. Wuxi School of Medicine. (Research contact information for Yan Wang and researchers).