Relationships between life-space mobility, physical function, and empowerment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Kunihiko Anami, Yoshihito Tsubouchi, Takuya Furukawa and 6 others
PMID 39354920WHAT IT FOUND
Life-space mobility was not related to empowerment scores in stable outpatients with COPD.
It was related to 6-minute walk distance and %FVC.
Key findings
01Total life-space mobility was not significantly correlated with total empowerment score.
02Life-space mobility was significantly correlated with %FVC and 6 MWD.
03In multivariate analysis, 6 MWD was selected as associated with life-space mobility.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional study, so it cannot show that walking distance or empowerment caused changes in life-space mobility. Only 25 stable outpatients from a clinic were studied, which limits how far the result can be generalised. The small sample size may limit interpretation of the multivariate analysis. The authors question whether the empowerment measure was adequately validated in the cultural context of Japan.
Declared interests
This research was supported by a Naragakuen Kyodokenkyu grant and a JSPS KAKENHI grant (Project no. 23K10332). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that empowerment is irrelevant to COPD or that improving walking distance will increase life-space mobility. This was a cross-sectional study of 25 stable outpatients and showed only associations.