Effects of an Individual and Family Self-Management Promotion Program on Self-Management Behaviors and Functional Capacity Among Older Persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Elderly people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) need to be encouraged to engage in self-management behaviors so that they can control the recurrence of the disease. The objective of this two–group, pre–posttest experimental research was to study the effects of a program to promote the self-management of individuals and families on self-management behavior and on the functional capacity of elderly people with COPD. The participants consisted of 56 elderly people in Mae Moh Subdistrict, Mae Moh District, Lampang Province who had been suffering from COPD for 6 months or more with disease severity levels of 3-4, and who were randomly assigned to a control and an experimental group with 28 per group. The study tools were divided into three components: 1) a sample screening tool, including the short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ form), an assessment of ability to carry out daily activities, and a questionnaire on self-management behavior of elderly people with COPD; 2) research tools, including the program to promote self-management of individuals and families of elderly people with COPD; and 3) data collection tools, including a personal data interview form, a data recording form for physical function, and a self-management behavior questionnaire for elderly people with COPD. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and dependent t-test.

The results found that after completion of the program, the mean self-management behavior scores of the elderly with COPD who received the program (M = 87.68, SD = 7.53) were significantly higher than those receiving usual care (M = 61.64, SD = 3.57) (t = -16.525, p < .001) and higher than before receiving the program with statistical significance (M = 63.11, SD = 9.19) (t = -12.689, p < .001). Physical function among the group who received the program (M = 377.64, SD = 17.88) was greater than that of the group receiving usual nursing care with statistical significance (M = 363.61, SD = 21.42) (t = -2.662, p = .010) and significantly more than before the experimental group received the program (M = 364.86, SD = 22.09) (t = -4.012, p < .001).

The results of this research can be used as a guideline for health personnel to apply programs to promote the self-management of individuals and families in promoting self-management behavior so that elderly people with COPD have good self-management behavior and the ability to perform physical functions to control recurrence of the disease.