Effectiveness of a brief self-care support intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation among the elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed effects of a brief self-care support intervention (SCSI) to promote health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-care adherence among elderly patients with COPD in Korea.

Design: A single-blinded, randomized pre-/posttest design

Methods: A total of 40 participants were consecutively recruited from eligible patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD to a department of pulmonology at a university hospital. Twenty participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received an SCSI utilizing a motivational interview. All participants were assessed with peak expiratory flow rate and 6-minute walking distance test, and answered Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and a questionnaire on self-care adherence at pre-intervention and 2 months postintervention.

Findings: After the intervention, SGRQ scores for symptom, activity, impact, and total were significantly lower and self-care adherence scores of medication and exercise were significantly higher in the experimental group.

Conclusions: This study confirmed the short-tem effectiveness of a nurse-led self-management intervention for pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and self-care adherence among elderly patients with COPD. Further studies are warranted to verify effective strategies to improve exercise capacity for this population.

Clinical relevance: Our findings suggest a brief intervention for rehabilitation nursing with more retainable, feasible, and cost-effective strategies to enhance self-management among the elderly patients with COPD.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; patient compliance; quality of life; rehabilitation; self-care.