Self-efficacy as a predictor of improvement in health status and overall quality of life in pulmonary rehabilitation--an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate developments in health status (HS) and overall quality of life (QOL), and the impact of self-efficacy on HS and QOL in relation to COPD pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).

METHODS

A longitudinal study of 100 COPD patients before and up to 3 months after COPD PR. Self-efficacy was measured by the COPD self-efficacy scale, HS by the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire and QOL by the Quality of Life Scale. Mixed effect models were used.

RESULTS

Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease (estimate=-4.05, p=0.019) immediately after the PR programme. Higher levels of self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease and improved physical activity, total HS and QOL (p<0.05). Better exercise capacity at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease, improved physical activity and QOL (p<0.05). Older age at baseline predicted significantly fewer respiratory symptoms and improved total HS (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease immediately after a COPD PR, and better exercise capacity and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly improved HS and QOL.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Increasing self-efficacy is suggested to be an important aim in relation to COPD PR.