Participant perspectives of pulmonary telerehabilitation in people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): a nested qualitative study in a randomised controlled trial

Reeves, J; Kindness, H; Spencer, LM; Tsai, LL; Baillie, AJ; Alison, JA

Participant perspectives of pulmonary telerehabilitation in people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): a nested qualitative study in a randomised controlled trial

Reeves, J

Kindness, H Spencer, LM Tsai, LL Baillie, AJ Alison, JA

Permalink

Publisher:: Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: European Journal of Physiotherapy, 2026, ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print), pp. 1-12
Issue Date:: 2026-01-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (1.01 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Reeves, J https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2851-5501
dc.contributor.author	Kindness, H
dc.contributor.author	Spencer, LM
dc.contributor.author	Tsai, LL
dc.contributor.author	Baillie, AJ
dc.contributor.author	Alison, JA
dc.date.accessioned	2026-07-14T07:39:30Z
dc.date.available	2026-07-14T07:39:30Z
dc.date.issued	2026-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	European Journal of Physiotherapy, 2026, ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print), pp. 1-12
dc.identifier.issn	2167-9169
dc.identifier.issn	2167-9177
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195657
dc.description.abstract	Background: Many people experience persistent and heterogenous symptoms following infection with COVID-19. While there is emerging evidence for rehabilitation strategies, few studies have reported patient experiences of rehabilitation, particularly experiences of pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR). The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) who participated in a 4-week PTR arm of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis. Participants had completed at least one session of PTR. Recruitment was via convenience sampling and continued until thematic saturation. Interviews were recorded, de-identified and coded to guide theme development. Results: Fifteen participants were interviewed [mean (SD) age 54 (14) years; 5 females], 12 completed the PTR program and three commenced but did not complete. Seven themes emerged: (1) remote access to telerehabilitation; (2) access to a health professional; (3) validation of PASC; (4) having a shared experience; (5) work commitments; (6) PASC symptoms; and (7) desire for more telerehabilitation opportunities. Conclusions: The experiences of people with respiratory PASC, identified through these themes, may help to shape future PTR programs and inform clinical trials.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Taylor & Francis
dc.relation.ispartof	European Journal of Physiotherapy
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/21679169.2026.2668431
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	3202 Clinical sciences
dc.subject.classification	4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
dc.subject.classification	4207 Sports science and exercise
dc.title	Participant perspectives of pulmonary telerehabilitation in people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): a nested qualitative study in a randomised controlled trial
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	ahead-of-print
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/School of Clinical and Health Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-07-14T07:39:29Z
pubs.issue	ahead-of-print
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	ahead-of-print
utslib.citation.issue	ahead-of-print

Abstract:

Background: Many people experience persistent and heterogenous symptoms following infection with COVID-19. While there is emerging evidence for rehabilitation strategies, few studies have reported patient experiences of rehabilitation, particularly experiences of pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR). The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) who participated in a 4-week PTR arm of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis. Participants had completed at least one session of PTR. Recruitment was via convenience sampling and continued until thematic saturation. Interviews were recorded, de-identified and coded to guide theme development. Results: Fifteen participants were interviewed [mean (SD) age 54 (14) years; 5 females], 12 completed the PTR program and three commenced but did not complete. Seven themes emerged: (1) remote access to telerehabilitation; (2) access to a health professional; (3) validation of PASC; (4) having a shared experience; (5) work commitments; (6) PASC symptoms; and (7) desire for more telerehabilitation opportunities. Conclusions: The experiences of people with respiratory PASC, identified through these themes, may help to shape future PTR programs and inform clinical trials.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195657