title: Methodological issues encountered in a study of hospitalized COPD patients.
abstract: A study with hospitalized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients determined the feasibility of providing and evaluating a tailored education program. This article describes two methodological issues encountered. Issues included recruitment and retention, and selection of outcome measures. The COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and Dartmouth Functional Health Status (FHS) charts provided data on evaluation and outcome measurements. Of 67 patients, 55% met eligibility criteria, 73% (n = 27) agreed to participate, and 74% (n = 20) completed the study. Results revealed acceptance and satisfaction with the educational intervention. The median CSES score, significantly (z = 3.51,p = .004) improved from 53% to 82%. In FHS, a 20% improvement occurred in all except social support. Methodological concerns with the CSES reinforced the need for further investigation of the reliability and validity for hospitalized COPD patients. Researchers' observations may assist in planning educational interventions and program evaluations with hospitalized COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bissonnette
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000451:nursing*; D012107:Research Design; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires