Effects of individualized target setting on step count in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study

Improving physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very important issue; however, effective recommended targets for individual patients remain to be determined. We developed a method for setting a target value for the step count for each patient using a measured value and the predicted step count. We then evaluated the effect of providing a pedometer or a pedometer with this target value for eight weeks on the step count in patients with COPD. Sixteen stable COPD patients were included in the analysis. Overall, no significant increase in the step count was obtained by providing the target value; however, when the patients were divided into two groups based on the median step count at baseline, a significant increase in the step count was observed in the low step-count group. In both the overall population and the low step-count group, there was a significant increase in the target achievement rate in patients who received a pedometer with a target value in comparison to patients who were given a pedometer without a target value. Physical activity may be improved by providing a newly developed individual target step count to COPD patients with a low step count at baseline.