Questionnaire Survey-Based Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Transitional Care on Self-Management of Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Methods: Clinical information of 78 COPD patients treated with TC (intervention group) or routine care (control group) in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital during March 2019 and August 2020 was gathered. Patients were followed up for 3 months after discharge. The intervention group (n = 39) was subjected to a TC plan for 3 months to help patients and their family caregivers for self-management of COPD. TC was provided by specially trained nurses, and patients were supported by standardized tools. Nursing measures in the control group (n = 79) included transitional support for 30 d after hospital discharge. In this way, patients were guaranteed to follow discharge plans and transit to outpatient nursing. Patient's anxiety and depression symptoms, sleep quality, survival quality, mobility, and life quality at admission and after 3 months of discharge were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version, Activity of Daily Life Scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and COPD Assessment Test.

Results: Except for anxiety and depression, patient's sleep quality, survival quality, mobility, and life quality in two groups were significantly improved. Moreover, average change of total CAT score during 3 months of intervention was -5.44, while that in the control group was -1.74 (p = 0.011). Improvement of survival quality of patients in the intervention group (p = 0.001) was markedly greater than that in the control group (p = 0.016).

Conclusion: Altogether, TC based on quantification by questionnaire survey is beneficial to COPD patient's life quality and self-management.