Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40404184›Full record

ArticleBMJ open respiratory research2025

Acceptability of pulmonary rehabilitation in Malawi: a qualitative study.

Fanuel Meckson Bickton, Talumba Mankhokwe, Beatrice Chavula, Emily Chitedze, Martha Manda, Cashon Fombe, Martha Mitengo, Langsfield Mwahimba, Moses Isiagi, Richard N van Zyl-Smit and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open respiratory research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Fanuel Meckson BicktonMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi fbickton@mlw.mw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0925-909X
Talumba MankhokwePhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Beatrice ChavulaPhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Emily ChitedzePhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Martha MandaPhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Cashon FombePhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Martha MitengoDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Langsfield MwahimbaPhysiotherapy Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Moses IsiagiDivision of Global Surgery, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Richard N van Zyl-SmitDivision of Pulmonology and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town & Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Susan HanekomDivision of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Martin HeineJulius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Harriet ShannonUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Jamie RylanceMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2323-3611
Enock ChisatiDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Allied Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
Stephen B GordonMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
Felix LimbaniMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), but its acceptability in Malawi was unknown.

objectivesTo explore patients' acceptability of PR at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.

methodsThis was a pre-post cohort study where participants were offered a two times per week hospital-based PR programme for 6 weeks, consisting of endurance and strengthening exercises. Following programme completion, face-to-face semistructured in-depth interviews with the participants were conducted. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using a deductive approach.

results10 adults (five females and five males) out of 14 invited (~70% uptake) participated in the PR programme and subsequent in-depth interviews. Five key themes emerged: (1) debilitating symptom experience of CRD prior to PR; (2) positive impact of PR on living with CRD; (3) contextual programme design improved participants' experience with PR; (4) one size does not fit all and (5) challenges and opportunities for home-based PR. Participants reported experiencing improvements in physical, psychological and social health associated with PR programme participation. The provision of transport was considered a key facilitator for PR programme completion. Realising the gained PR benefits, participants were willing to continue exercising at their homes.

conclusionThe PR programme improved the participants' perceived health status and was well-accepted. Addressing barriers related to transport facilitated immediate implementation while providing a challenge for the scaling and sustainability of PR beyond the project duration. These findings support the drive for shifting chronic care, including rehabilitation, towards primary care and community. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Prospective; 27 August 2021; ISRCTN13836793.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyPatient Acceptance of Health CareAdultAgedChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMalawiMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchPulmonary Rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID40404184
PMCPMC12096972

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.