Outcomes in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Physical therapists, as integral members of the multidisciplinary team in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, should be knowledgeable about methods for assessing outcomes for their patients, and they need to understand the value of aggregated data in improving interventions. Definitions are discussed, and appropriate data used to monitor function are identified, including data used in the assessment of well-being. Results of outcome studies from current cardiac and pulmonary literature are presented. A discussion of how to select outcomes to assess and the value of outcome information for program management is included. Therapists are in a position to encourage and participate in widespread, collaborative measurement of disease-specific clinical outcomes, patient functioning, and well-being, which should improve the effectiveness and efficiency of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.