title: A self-management program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship to dyspnea and self-efficacy.
abstract: The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effects of a nurse-directed self-management program on dyspnea and self-efficacy levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Health Belief Model and the Theory of Self-Efficacy provided the theoretical framework for the study. The sample included 10 COPD patients from rural North Carolina who attended a 6-week nurse-directed self-management program. Dyspnea and self-efficacy were measured before and after the program by using a vertical visual analogue scale for dyspnea and the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale. A single-group quasi-experimental design that incorporated a pretest and a posttest was used. Paired t tests were used to compare the pretest and the posttest levels of dyspnea and self-efficacy. The findings revealed no significant change in levels of dyspnea after the program. Levels of self-efficacy, however, were found to have increased at a statistically significant level (p < .001) following the program. This study indicates that using a group teaching method to teach self-management skills improved self-efficacy levels.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bowman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012423:Rural Health; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*