Patient education during hospital admission due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Effects on quality of life-Controlled and randomized experimental study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an education program and telephone call follow-up at improving the health related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Method: Experimental, controlled, randomized, single blind study, masked data analysis. Duration of 2 years and 3 months. Patients hospitalised for exacerbation. The effectiveness was evaluated by calculating the absolute and relative change (%) of the St. George questionnaire scores (total and by dimensions) before and after the intervention program. Calculation of the effect of the group variable on the absolute and relative changes of the variables, Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA).

Results: Completed study of 116 patients. Greater effects on their HRQL reported at admission (48.3 ± SD 20.0 years). Patients in the intervention group improved significantly in their total SGRQ scores (-6.83) in absolute and relative terms and more significantly in their activity dimension (-16.05).

Conclusions: The education program was effective at improving global HRQL, especially the activity dimension, in exacerbated COPD patients.

Practice implications: This research contributes to clarifying the benefits and contents of education programs for patients with COPD; hospital admission is the suitable moment to contact these patients.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Health education; Patient education as a subject; Quality of life.