Feasibility of Telerehabilitation for the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) involves lung inflammation and fibrosis, leading to dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, and lower quality of life. While pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a promising treatment, its uptake remains low. Telemedicine tools, such as telerehabilitation, aim to improve access, though most studies have focused on COPD, leaving the benefits for ILD patients unclear. This study evaluated ILD patients' experiences with a telerehabilitation system for home-based PR. Eight participants completed tasks using the system, followed by a heuristic evaluation and a semi-structured interview. The results revealed that participants rated the system highly for visibility, language consistency, and control, with minimal confusion or errors reported Thematic analysis revealed high acceptance and usability, indicating telerehabilitation’s potential for improving PR access in ILD patients. These findings will inform future PR interventions.