Self-management and symptom monitoring among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

P>Title. Self-management and symptom monitoring among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aims. To describe self-management, symptom monitoring and the associated influences among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Background. Optimal self-management and monitoring of key symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reduces dyspnoea and preventable hospitalizations. Method. A prospective, descriptive survey design was used and data collected from patients with moderate severity chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during home interviews between April 2005 and June 2006. Predictors of self-management and symptom monitoring were determined by linear regression analyses. Results. Patients' (n = 78) mean age was 73 center dot 37 years (sd 7 center dot 52); 55 center dot 1% were male and 66 center dot 7% were married. Most (92 center dot 3%) had concurrent illnesses, and 48 center dot 7% had been admitted to hospital for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the past 6 months. Self-management was good to very good, with poorer self-management predicted by lower self-efficacy (beta = -0 center dot 21), a weaker sense of coherence (beta = -0 center dot 03), and no hospitalization in the past 6 months (beta = -05). Symptom monitoring was not ideal, with more than 20% of patients not monitoring any of the key symptoms. More frequent symptom monitoring occurred among participants who were married (beta = 5.14) and had more severe disease (beta = 0 center dot 79). Conclusion. As self-management and symptom monitoring ensure better outcomes among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, health professionals should encourage these behaviours. Involving partners, promoting self-efficacy and understanding of sense of coherence are helpful in this process.