Do attitudes to telehealth delivered care differ by gender in people with chronic respiratory disease?

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key component of management for people chronic respiratory disease. A program of exercise and education, pulmonary rehabilitation effectively improves symptoms and function and reduces healthcare utilisation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a means to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation services, many programs now offer a remotely delivered service making use of the internet or other telecommunications technology. Although a majority of people referred to pulmonary rehabilitation are open to receiving pulmonary rehabilitation services remotely, there is emerging evidence to suggest that engagement with remote health delivery services may differ by gender. The influence of gender on attitudes to telehealth delivered care by people with chronic respiratory disease is unknown. This work will involve undertaking a qualitative study to understand the views and experiences of people with chronic respiratory disease about receiving care, in particular pulmonary rehabilitation, by telehealth. Whether attitudes differ by gender will be specifically explored.