Differences in content and organisational aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes

To study the overall content and organizational aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation programs from a global perspective to get an initial the degree of heterogeneity worldwide.A twelve-question survey on organizational aspects was completed by representatives of pulmonary rehabilitation programs that previously participated in the European Society (ERS) COPD Audit. Moreover, all ERS members affiliated with the Scientific Groups 01.02 (Rehabilitation and Chronic Care) and/or 09.02 (Physiotherapy), all members of the American Association of Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), and all ATS Pulmonary Rehabilitation members were asked to complete the survey via multiple e-mailings.The been completed by representatives of 430 centres from 40 countries. The demonstrate large differences among pulmonary rehabilitation programs continents for all aspects that were surveyed, including the setting, case-mix of individuals with a chronic respiratory disease, composition pulmonary rehabilitation team, completion rates, methods of referral, of reimbursement.The current findings stress the importance of future of process and performance metrics to monitor pulmonary rehabilitation to be able to start international benchmarking, and to provide for international standards based on evidence and best practice.