Self-management and behaviour modification in COPD

Abstract

There is new evidence from recent studies that disease-specific self-management improves health status and reduces hospital admissions in COPD patients. It is critical to implement health education programs in the continuum of care aimed at behaviour modification. Studies in COPD have shown that self-management increases knowledge and skills the patients require to treat their own illness. It is also essential to be more effective in improving patients' confidence in their ability to follow a self-care regimen, for example, by augmenting self-efficacy. Self-efficacy plays a part in determining which activities or situations an individual will perform or avoid. Results from a recent qualitative study suggested that a continuum self-management program helps COPD patients to perform given self-health behaviours. COPD patients have perceived barriers and factors (disease-related skills), which will hinder or facilitate lifestyle modification. To be successful, self-management does require a multifaceted approach that incorporates not only teaching various disease contents but also implementing strategies to change behaviour in patients. Further research is needed to develop strategies on how to intervene and facilitate behaviour modification in chronic disease and as such the relevance for the implementation of self-management programs in COPD.