Pulmonary rehabilitation, psychosocial adjustment, and use of healthcare services.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second most significant illness in those who are in their middle-to-late adult years. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one means of working with individuals with COPD to improve their quality of life. Nurses are often the facilitators and coordinators of pulmonary rehabilitation. Evaluation of the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation is an essential aspect of providing quality care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of pulmonary rehabilitation to individuals' use of healthcare services and to their psychosocial adjustment to COPD. A convenience sample was obtained from an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program associated with a rural regional medical center in the southwestern United States. The sample consisted of 13 individuals who had no formal pulmonary rehabilitation and 17 individuals who had completed a formal pulmonary rehabilitation program. Psychosocial adjustment was measured by the Psychosocial Adjustment to Medical Illness Scale-Self Reporting (PAIS-SR). No significant statistical difference was found between the two groups in their PAIS-SR scores or use of healthcare services, as measured by the number of days spent in the hospital during the previous year.