| Summary: | This study examines the effect of self-education on, exercise tolerance, and dyspnea. Twenty patients with stable COPD (mean forced expiratory volume in one second FEV1 = 1.29 ± 0.28, 6MWD 333.15 ± 70, BAI43.15 ± 3.47) had seven 90 min sessions of self-education at weekly intervals.
Patients completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), one day before and seven weeks after therapy. FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), blood gas tensions and six minute walking distance (6MWD) are measured.
Twenty control patients attended weekly, they were assessed using spirometer and 6MWD was measured for seven weeks. There were no differences in mean baseline age, (BAI) score, lung function, blood gas tensions or 6MWD between groups.
After treatment, the BAI score had decreased significantly to 40.8 ± 3.11, in association; the mean 6MWD had also improved in the treated group only, from 333.15 ± 70 to 376.9 ± 64.9 meter, an increase of statistically significant p value of 0.042.
In conclusion: Seven week self-management education to COPD patients produced a significant improvement in exercise tolerance and BAI score.
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