Effects of a COPD self-management support intervention: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Heidi B Bringsvor,1,2 Eva Langeland,3 Bjørg Frøysland Oftedal,2 Knut Skaug,1 Jörg Assmus,4 Signe Berit Bentsen5 1Department of Research and Innovation, Helse Fonna HF, Haugesund, Norway; 2Department of Quality and Health Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; 3Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway; 4Center for Clinical Research, Department of Reserach and Innovation, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; 5SHARE-Centre for Resilience in Health Care, Department of Quality and Health Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway Background: This study examines the effects of the COPD-specific health promoting self-management intervention “Better living with COPD” on different self-management-related domains, self-efficacy, and sense of coherence (SOC). Methods: In a randomized controlled design, 182 people with COPD were allocated to either an intervention group (offered Better living with COPD in addition to usual care) or a control group (usual care). Self-management-related domains were measured by the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) before and after intervention. Self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and SOC was measured by the 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13). Effects were assessed by ANCOVA, using intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and per-protocol analysis (PPA). Results: The PPA and the ITT analysis showed significant positive changes on Constructive attitudes and approaches (heiQ) (ITT: P=0.0069; PPA: P=0.0021) and Skill and technique acquisition (heiQ) (ITT: P=0.0405; PPA: P=0.0356). Self-monitoring and insight (heiQ) showed significant positive change in the PPA (P=0.0494). No significant changes were found on the other self-management domains (heiQ), self-efficacy (GSE), or SOC (SOC-13). Conclusion: Better living with COPD had a significant positive short-term effect on some self-management-related domains, and could be an intervention contributing to the support of self-management in people with COPD. However, further work is needed to establish the clinical relevance of the findings and to evaluate the long-term effects. Keywords: constructive attitudes and approaches, Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ), self-efficacy, self-monitoring and insight, sense of coherence, skill and technique acquisition

Keywords

• Constructive attitudes and approaches
• Health education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ)
• Self-efficacy
• Self-monitoring and insight
• Sense of coherence
• Skill and technique acquisition