Respiratory care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Exploring the Benefits to Caregivers of a Family-Oriented Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.
COPD is a highly incapacitating disease, particularly among older people, implying significant burden for family caregivers. Involving caregivers in comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programs might benefit their functional coping to care demands; however, there is no objective evidence to sustain such assumption. This study is a secondary analysis aiming to analyze the effects of a family-based pulmonary rehabilitation program on close family caregivers of older subjects with COPD. ⋯ The findings provide valuable evidence to recommend the inclusion of COPD family caregivers in comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation. Family-oriented pulmonary rehabilitation maximizes caregivers' adaptive coping and potentially prevents negative psychological outcomes; however, further research is needed.