Trial results for an intervention designed to improve physical activity in individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were posted on 2026-04-02. The "Every Step Counts Intervention," an internet-mediated, pedometer-based walking program, led to a mean increase of 1302.34 steps per day in the intervention group, while the usual care group experienced a mean decrease of -108.15 steps per day. The mean difference between groups was 1410.49 steps per day, with a p-value of 0.005. A total of 146 participants were enrolled in the study.
Background
Persons with COPD often experience significant functional disability and face barriers to accessing conventional hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs. This challenge highlights a critical need for accessible and effective rehabilitative treatments. The study aimed to evaluate whether an internet-mediated, pedometer-based walking program could serve as an alternative solution to increase physical activity in individuals with COPD who qualify for but cannot readily access traditional PR, comparing its effects to usual care.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 146 participants with COPD. The trial investigated the "Every Step Counts Intervention," an internet-mediated, pedometer-based walking program, against a comparator arm of "Usual Care." The intervention was designed to increase physical activity in participants who could not access conventional pulmonary rehabilitation.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements and analyses comparing the intervention group to usual care:
- Physical Activity Measured as Change in Average Daily Step Count:
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group showed a mean increase of 1302.34 steps per day (Standard Error 326.33).
- The "Usual Care" group showed a mean decrease of -108.15 steps per day (Standard Error 366.36).
- A Mixed Models Analysis indicated a mean difference of 1410.49 steps per day between groups, with a p-value of 0.005.
- Exercise Self-Regulatory Efficacy Measured as Change Score (score on a scale):
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group had a mean change of 1.16 (Standard Error 3.07).
- The "Usual Care" group had a mean change of -0.86 (Standard Error 3.41).
- A Mixed Models Analysis showed a mean difference of 2.02 between groups, with a p-value of 0.661.
- Disease Specific Health-Related Quality of Life Measured as Change Score (score on a scale):
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group had a mean change of -1.34 (Standard Error 1.92).
- The "Usual Care" group had a mean change of -2.30 (Standard Error 2.17).
- A Mixed Models Analysis showed a mean difference of 0.96 between groups, with a p-value of 0.739.
- Shortness of Breath Rating as Perceived by the Participant Measured as Change Score (score on a scale):
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group had a mean change of -0.06 (Standard Error 0.20).
- The "Usual Care" group had a mean change of -0.01 (Standard Error 0.22).
- A Mixed Models Analysis showed a mean difference of -0.06 between groups, with a p-value of 0.847.
- Depression Self-reported on Questionnaire Measured as Change Score (score on a scale):
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group had a mean change of -0.83 (Standard Error 0.88).
- The "Usual Care" group had a mean change of -1.35 (Standard Error 0.99).
- A Mixed Models Analysis showed a mean difference of 0.53 between groups, with a p-value of 0.691.
- CHAMPS Physical Activity Questionnaire Measured as Change Score (caloric expenditure per week):
- The "Every Step Counts Intervention" group had a mean change of 1567.28 (Standard Error 496.62).
- The "Usual Care" group had a mean change of 715.33 (Standard Error 550.62).
What this means
The results suggest that an internet-mediated, pedometer-based walking program can significantly increase physical activity levels, as measured by daily step count, in individuals with COPD who face barriers to accessing traditional pulmonary rehabilitation. This intervention offers a promising and accessible alternative to help improve physical activity in this patient population. While the program demonstrated a clear benefit in daily steps, other measured outcomes such as exercise self-regulatory efficacy, disease-specific health-related quality of life, shortness of breath, and depression did not show statistically significant differences compared to usual care in the analyses provided.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public registry of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03794921, titled "COPD Access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation Intervention", were posted on 2026-04-02 on clinicaltrials.gov.