Table 1.

Major elements of the hospital-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme during the first 3 months

Item	Content		Frequency	Interventionist
Physical exercise	Upper body exercise: 15–30 min of lifting weights Lower body exercise: 15–30 min on a cycle ergometer		Twice a week for 30–60 min each time	Physiotherapists
	Modified Taijiquan exercises		Once a week for 30–60 min	Taijiquan instructor, RA
Smoking cessation	Group intervention		3 Sessions	Psychologist, nurse
	Individual intervention		Once or twice a week
Self-management education	COPD knowledge, symptom management, pulmonary rehabilitation treatment and drug utilisation, benefits of physical exercise, nutrition and diet, long-term oxygen therapy		7 Sessions	Multidisciplinary team: physician, nutritionist, nurse
Psychosocial support	Group activity to facilitate communication among patients; suggesting coping strategies; individual counselling when needed		2 Sessions	Psychologist, nurse

In our preliminary study, we reduced the number of traditional Taijiquan procedures from 24 to 6 and verified its effectiveness. Adherence to the intervention was defined as attendance at 75% or more sessions.

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RA, research associate.