Irini Patsaki, Vasiliki Avgeri, Theodora Rigoulia, Theodoros Zekis, George A Koumantakis, Eirini Grammatopoulou
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation. Patient participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programs has a beneficial effect on disease management, improving patients' functional capacity and quality of life. As an alternative to traditional programs or as a complementary activity, the inclusion of virtual reality (VR) games is proposed. The aim of this research study was to investigate the effectiveness of incorporating VR in the pulmonary rehabilitation program of patients with COPD. A systematic literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the electronic databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Pedro from January 2014 to March 2022. The search involved screening for studies examining the effectiveness of enhancing PR with VR. The PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale was chosen as the tool to assess the quality of studies. A meta-analysis was performed where possible. Six studies were included in this systematic review. The PEDro scale showed five studies of good methodological quality and one of fair quality. The variables examined were: aerobic capacity for exercise, lung function, anxiety and depression, with non-significant improvement for the MRC Dyspnea scale, marginally non-significant improvement regarding 6MWT (p = 0.05) and significant improvement for FEV1 (p < 0.05). There was variability noted in the VR applications and the proposed rehabilitation that the experimental groups followed. The application of VR is recommended for COPD patients, in combination with conventional PR. VR was found to be effective in increasing therapeutic effect and should be considered as a mean of increasing accessibility to PR. Therefore, further research, as well as additional RCTs regarding the effectiveness of VR in patients with COPD, seems necessary.
期刊介绍:
"Advances in Respiratory Medicine" is a new international title for "Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska", edited bimonthly and addressed to respiratory professionals. The Journal contains peer-reviewed original research papers, short communications, case-reports, recommendations of the Polish Respiratory Society concerning the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, editorials, postgraduate education articles, letters and book reviews in the field of pneumonology, allergology, oncology, immunology and infectious diseases. "Advances in Respiratory Medicine" is an open access, official journal of Polish Society of Lung Diseases, Polish Society of Allergology and National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.