A subgroup analysis reported significant differences in the promotion of physical activity based on baseline physical activity levels and the type of instrument used to assess levels of physical activity .
Promoting physical activity in COPD: Insights from a randomized trial of a web-based intervention and pedometer use.
RATIONALE Low physical activity is highly prevalent among COPD patients and is associated with increased healthcare utilization and mortality and reduced HRQL . The addition of a website to pedometer use is effective at increasing physical activity ; however , the timeline of change and impact of environmental factors on efficacy is unknown . METHODS U.S. Veterans with COPD were r and omized ( 1:1 ) to receive either ( 1 ) a pedometer and website which provided goal - setting , feedback , disease-specific education , and an online community forum or ( 2 ) pedometer alone for 3 months . Primary outcome was change in daily step count . Secondary outcomes included 6MWT distance , HRQL , dyspnea , depression , COPD knowledge , exercise self-efficacy , social support , motivation , and confidence to exercise . Generalized linear mixed-effects models evaluated the effect of the pedometer plus website compared to pedometer alone . RESULTS Data from 109 subjects ( 98.5 % male , mean age 68.6 ± 8.3 years ) were analyzed . At 13 weeks , subjects in the pedometer plus website group had significant increases daily step count from baseline relative to the pedometer alone group ( 804 ± 356.5 steps per day , p = 0.02 ) . The pedometer plus website group had significant improvements in daily step count from baseline beginning in week 3 which were sustained until week 13 . In subgroup analyses , the pedometer plus website attenuated declines in daily step count during the transition from summer to fall . No significant differences in secondary outcomes were noted between groups . CONCLUSIONS A website added to pedometer use improves daily step counts , sustains walking over 3 months , and attenuates declines in physical activity due to season
A subgroup analysis reported significant differences in the promotion of physical activity based on baseline physical activity levels and the type of instrument used to assess levels of physical activity .