[Effect of health education on the lung function and life quality in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of health education on the symptoms, lung function and life quality in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).

Methods: Eighty-two patients were assigned into 2 groups randomly: The treatment group (n = 43) accepted health education for 6 months and the control group (n = 39) did not. Before and after the 6 months, we observed the number of smokers, Borg score, inhale treatment, times of acute episode, SGRQ score, lung function, and the therapeutic effect in the two groups.

Results: Six months later, the ratio of smokers in the treatment group was 13.95%, much lower than that in the control group (35.90%, P = 0.021); the Borg score of the treatment group decreased from 4.86 +/- 1.21 to 3.38 +/- 0.94 (P =0.000), but there was no difference in the control group; the ratios of accepted inhale treatment in the treatment group and the control group were 100% (43/43) and 20.51 % (8/39) respectively (P = 0.000), and the accuracy rates were 100% (43/43 ) in the treatment group and 12. 82% (5/39) in the control group (P =0. 000); the times of acute episode in the treatment group was 1.51 +/- 1.53, much lower than that in the control group (4.46 +/- 5.17, P = 0. 000); the indexes of lung function before and after the 6 months between the two groups had no significant difference. The total score, the symptom section score, the activity section score, and the impact section score of SGRQ after the 6 months of health education were much lower than those of 6 months before, and those in the control group had no significant difference.

Conclusion: Six months of the health education can decrease the ratio of smokers and the times of acute episode, and to improve the life quality of patients with stable COPD.