Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases, 2021, 11, 27-36 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojrd ISSN Online: 2163-9418 ISSN Print: 2163-940X DOI: 10.4236/ojrd.2021.112003 Mar. 12, 2021 27 Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases Perceived Improvements of Quality of Life (QoL) among Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in Response to a 6-Week Rehabilitation Program Sameera Peumal Senanayake 1,2 , Rathugamage Sithija Priyankara Fernando 2 , Heeraluge Erandie Hasini Perera 2 , Ridmi Shashiprabha Maddumage 2 , Athuraliya Gamacharige Kasuni Neranja 2 , Kathaluwa Liyana Kankanamge Tharini Dilanka Sandharenu 2 1 Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Werahara, Sri Lanka 2 School of Sports Sciences, Swansea University, Wales, United Kingdom Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, life-limiting with an average life expectancy of 05 years following the onset of the disease, with no curative treatments. These patients need palliative care and rehabilitation is one of the methods that can be used to improve quality of life (QoL) among these pa- tients. Yet the research conducted to assess benefits of pulmonary rehabilita- tion (PR) in terms of improving physical activity and QoL in IPF patients re- mains limited. Hence this study aims to evaluate the effect of a bespoke pul- monary rehabilitation programme, on the physical, physiological and psy- chological parameters and improvements of QoL among IPF patients. Eleven (11) subjects with IPF received 6 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation. An in- terviewer administered quality of life questionnaire, six-minute walking test (6MWT), Incremental bicycle exercise tests were performed, and cardiac and respiratory parameters were assessed pre- and post-rehabilitation. The 6MWT was significantly increased following training (Pre 312.55 ± 89.99; Post, 380.73 ± 59.60). A significant improvement was observed in overall QoL (2.226 ± 0.026), dyspnoea (-0.455 ± 0.004) anxiety (-2.070 ± 0.038), depres- sion (-2.217 ± 0.027) scores. No significant changes were found in the VO 2 max and other cardiopulmonary parameters, while non-significant improve- ment was seen in SpO 2 at peak exercise from 85.8 - 86.5. Bespoke pulmonary How to cite this paper: Senanayake, S.P., Fernando, R.S.P., Perera, H.E.H., Maddu- mage, R.S., Neranja, A.G.K. and Sandha- renu, K.L.K.T.D. (2021) Perceived Im- provements of Quality of Life (QoL) among Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibro- sis (IPF) in Response to a 6-Week Rehabil- itation Program. Open Journal of Respira- tory Diseases, 11, 27-36. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojrd.2021.112003 Received: February 12, 2021 Accepted: March 9, 2021 Published: March 12, 2021 Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access