Patient outcomes according to COPD action plan adherence

Aims and objectives: To identify the level of pulmonary function, number of unplanned hospital visits, knowledge level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), level of anxiety and depression, and level of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to COPD action plan (AP) adherence in Korean patients with COPD.

Background: Previous studies reported conflicting results about the effect of COPD AP on patient outcomes, with little descriptive information.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used.

Methods: A total of 126 patients with COPD were recruited from Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju city from September 2009 to March 2010. COPD action plan adherence and the levels of knowledge of COPD, anxiety and depression, and HRQoL were measured using a short COPD AP developed by the Family Physician Airway Group of Canada executive members, Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), respectively.

Results: The score of COPD AP adherence was positively associated with the level of knowledge of COPD and negatively associated with the number of unplanned hospital visits and the level of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion: Good adherence to COPD AP is likely related to better health outcomes in COPD. Healthcare providers may need to enhance COPD AP aspect in various COPD self-management programmes to improve the health status of patients with COPD.

Relevance to clinical practice: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease AP aspect targeting frequent individual education with a written guideline would be helpful to enhance self-management in patients with COPD.