Changes in personal control as a predictor of quality of life after pulmonary rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
Perceptions of mastery and self-efficacy may be related to better outcomes in pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined (1) whether patients with COPD improved during a rehabilitation programme with respect to quality of life (QoL) and perceptions of self-efficacy and mastery, and (2) whether increased perceptions of mastery and self-efficacy contributed to a higher QoL after rehabilitation.


METHODS
Thirty-nine consecutive COPD patients (aged 60.5 +/- 9.0) were included from a rehabilitation centre and completed self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms, QoL, and perceptions of personal control.


RESULTS
COPD patients improved during rehabilitation in overall QoL and self-efficacy, although no significant changes were found in QoL domains and mastery. Changes in self-efficacy during rehabilitation contributed to the explanation of the social and psychological functioning QoL domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Even in seriously impaired COPD patients in advanced stages of illness, positive changes in self-efficacy and overall well-being can be established during rehabilitation. Changes in self-efficacy were related to a better QoL, suggesting the importance of personal control in the adjustment to COPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Focussing more explicitly on the enhancement of perceptions of personal control in COPD patients may be an important aim of pulmonary rehabilitation.
Arnold
Rosemarie
R
Northern Centre for Healthcare Research, NCH, University of Groningen Medical Center, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. r.arnold@chir.umcg.nl
Ranchor
Adelita V
AV
Koëter
Gerard H
GH
de Jongste
Mike J L
MJ
Wempe
Johan B
JB
ten Hacken
Nick H T
NH
Otten
Verona
V
Sanderman
Robbert
R
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires