New study brings lung rehab to africa: can exercise programs help millions?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female adults (\>= 18 years) with specified clinical diagnosis (typically by detailed clinical history \[persistent symptoms for ≥6 months\] plus spirometry and/or other available tests, e.g., chest X-ray\] * Individuals with CRDs, specifically COPD, asthma or post-tuberculosis lung disorder * Patients with CRDs who have an indication for PR (specifically, these are patients with moderate to severe staged disease who present with reduced exercise/functional capacity, poor quality of life, high disease symptoms, particularly dyspnea) and are medically fit to undergo exercise training (which is to be determined by pre-exercise screening and field tests). * Patients with CRDs attending regular follow-up in the respiratory clinics of the selected centres. * Patients who are willing and able to provide written or oral (audio recorded) informed consent * All levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary) of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, healthcare administrators, pulmonologists, and other formal practitioners working in primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings, who provide services to patients who may potentially require PR. * Relevant stakeholders, including policymakers, religious leaders, sports leaders, the pharmaceutical industry, social workers, managers, and hospital/practice owners. * Willing and able to provide written or oral (audio recorded) informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with other significant chronic co-morbidities such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, DM, and confusion/dementia * Pregnant women * Co-morbidity that is a contraindication to PR (e.g., unstable angina, aortic aneurysm, recent myocardial infarction, acute infection, etc.) * Significant cognitive or physical impairment preventing participation in PR * Active pulmonary tuberculosis vi. Patient with current or recent disease exacerbations * Non-respiratory cause for symptoms (e.g., breathlessness due to heart failure, anaemia) * Unable to participate in exercise (e.g., due to severe arthritis or paralysis) * Undertaken PR within one year. * Unwilling to participate in the study. * Unable to give written or oral (audio recorded) informed consent * Healthcare professionals who are not involved in the care of patients who require PR, e.g., midwives * Having a conflict of interest that may influence the outcome * Unable and unwilling to give written or oral (audio recorded) informed consent