Effects of a Self-Management Program on Perceived Self-efficacy to Control Dyspnea and Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Abstract: This quasi-experiment aimed to examine effects of a self-management program on perceived self-efficacy to control dyspnea, and exercise tolerance by using Wagner’s self management program as the conceptual framework. Seventy patients who were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and admitted to a secondary hospital with dyspnea were divided into the experimental and control group with 35 patients each. The experimental group
received a self-management program, which comprised self-management education and skill training with patient-centered, family support, home visits, and follow ups. The program was carried out for 8 weeks and evaluated at Week 4 and Week 8. Data were collected through the Personal Data Questionnaire, the Perceived Self-Efficacy to Control Dyspnea Questionnaire,and exercise tolerance was determined by the Six-Minute Walk Test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-factor repeated measures ANOVA and compared mean between groups. Results revealed that almost all (99.30%) of the sample were men and the mean age was 68.64 years. There were no differences in age between the experimental and control groups. There was a significant difference in perceived self-efficacy to control dyspnea between the experimental group and the control group, but exercise tolerance was not significantly different. The study findings suggest that the self-management program should have patients’
involvement in self-management planning with supporting care by family. Nurses should promote self-efficacy and work as a partnership in self-management.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Self-management program, Perceived self-efficacy, Dyspnea, Exercise tolerance