Self-Management of COPD Does Not Reduce Adverse Outcomes

Asthma self-management programs reduce days missed at school and work, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; 1:CD001117); it is unclear whether the same is true for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this Scottish trial, which involved 464 patients hospitalized for acute COPD exacerbations, investigators examined outcomes associated with a self-management program.

Participants were randomized to usual care or the self-management program, which included four training sessions every 2 weeks followed by nurse home visits every 6 weeks. The goal was to enable participants to understand their disease, monitor symptoms and activate a self-management plan including adjusting treatment earl…