Self-management and health related quality of life in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Although it is well-known that persons with COPD experience lower health related quality of life (HRQoL), little is known about the importance of self-management related domains on HRQoL in persons with COPD. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine associations between self-management related domains and HRQoL, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, self-efficacy, and sense of coherence.

Cross-sectional data of 225 persons with COPD, recruited from a hospital register, were analyzed. Self-management related domains were measured using the Health education impact questionnaire (heiQ) and HRQoL was measured using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Multiple linear regression analysis was used.

The final models showed significant associations between the self-management domains constructive attitudes and approaches and emotional distress and HRQoL. Dyspnea, number of comorbidities, self-efficacy, and the various self-management related domains explained 51.3 to 55.1% of the variance in HRQoL.

The findings suggest that addressing self-management related domains, in addition to self-efficacy, dyspnea, and comorbidities, may be of importance for enhancement of HRQoL in persons with COPD.