AIM: To explore the feasibility of integrating palliative care education in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS: A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted in people with chronic respiratory diseases enrolled in 12-weeks outpatient hospital-based PR. A session about palliative care was integrated in the education content. Feasibility was assessed by attendance to the palliative care session, feasibility and acceptability of outcome assessment, acceptability of the intervention and undesirable effects. After PR, two focus groups were carried out. Descriptive and inductive thematic analyses were performed. RESULTS: Out of 44 individuals referred to PR, 14 were excluded, six declined to participate and two were referred to another rehabilitation programme. Twenty-two people with chronic respiratory diseases started PR, however, six had discontinued the programme at the time of the palliative care session. Attendance to this session was 81% (n=13/16
11 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1 severe asthma and 1 interstitial lung disease
77% men, 65±9 years-old, FEV DISCUSSION: Integrating an education session about palliative care in PR is feasible, meaningful for people with chronic respiratory diseases, and has no undesirable effects. A randomised controlled study is being prepared to strengthen these results.