A COPD self management programme reduced hospital use and improved health status
QUESTION: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), does a COPD specific self management programme reduce hospital use and improve health status more than usual care?
Design
Randomised (allocation concealed), blinded {data collectors and data analysts}*, controlled trial with 12 months of follow up.
Setting
7 hospitals in 3 cities in Quebec, Canada.
Patients
191 patients ≥50 years of age (mean age 70 y, 55% men) who had stable COPD (respiratory symptoms and medication unchanged for ≥4 wks); were current or previous smokers; had an FEV1 25–70% of predicted and an FEV1 forced vital capacity ratio <70%; no previous asthma, left congestive heart failure, terminal disease, dementia, or uncontrolled psychiatric illness; had not been in a respiratory rehabilitation programme in the previous year; and had no long term care facility stays. 86% of patients completed the 12 month assessment.
Intervention
Patients were stratified by centre. 96 …
