Objective: The objective of this study is to propose and assess the clinical application value of a nursing intervention method based on the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change, aiming to address the increasing incidence and mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and enhance the focus on its treatment and nursing in clinical practice.
Methods: The study included 120 COPD patients admitted to the respiratory department, using random number table method randomly assigned to a control group (Ctrl group, receiving routine nursing management) and an observation group (Obs group, receiving Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC)-based nursing management), each comprising 60 cases. Self-management, recovery of lung function and clinical symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) of patients were compared in two groups.
Results: In summary, the study demonstrated significant improvements in specific parameters among COPD patients receiving Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC)-based nursing management compared to routine nursing management. After 2 months of intervention, the COPD self-management scale scores indicated noteworthy enhancements in symptom management (Obs: 29.12±4.01 vs. Ctrl: 26.53±3.66), daily living management (Obs: 53.77±4.78 vs. Ctrl: 45.21±4.02), emotional management (Obs: 46.56±5.83 vs. Ctrl: 34.10±4.83), information management (Obs: 29.83±5.33 vs. Ctrl: 25.37±5.83), self-efficacy (Obs: 34.32±4.78 vs. Ctrl: 28.38±3.33), and overall self-management (Obs: 184.18±24.03 vs. Ctrl: 170.88±22.66), all with statistical significance (P < .05). The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) demonstrated improved exercise endurance for the observation group after 1 and 4 months of intervention, with scores (380.03±52.47) significantly higher than the control group (351.73±51.26) at T3 (P < .05). Dyspnea scores were notably lower in the observation group, indicating reduced respiratory severity, and the comprehensive evaluation using the CAT scale showed significantly lower symptom scores in the observation group (Obs: 15.57±4.21 vs. Ctrl: 19.25±4.63) (P < .05). Finally, the WHOQOL-BREF scores reflected a higher quality of life for patients receiving ITHBC-based nursing management (Obs: P < .05), highlighting the substantial impact of ITHBC-based interventions in significantly enhancing self-management, lung function, exercise endurance, dyspnea, symptom recovery, and overall quality of life in COPD patients compared to routine nursing management.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the study underscores the effectiveness of Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC)-based nursing management in significantly improving the self-management capabilities of COPD patients, leading to enhanced prognosis. The findings suggest that ITHBC holds promise as a valuable approach in nursing management for COPD and potentially extends its applicability to other chronic conditions. This study not only contributes to the understanding of effective interventions for COPD but also opens avenues for broader applications of ITHBC-based nursing management in the context of various chronic health conditions.