2. Action plan (AP) intervention and comparison used in included studies.

	Individualised AP	Standard written AP	Support for AP during study period	SME (individual/group)	Prescription /supply OCS	Prescription /supply ABS	Written COPD educational component	Comparison
Martin 2004	Written		3‐Monthly visit regarding use of AP	Individual interview with respiratory nurse, length not stated, individualised action plan according to current treatment and symptoms	All had 7‐day supply	All had 7‐day supply	No	Usual care by own GP
McGeoch 2004		Yes	No	Individual session by practice nurse or respiratory educator in association with GP 1 hour, covering major points of COPD self‐management plan, and use of validated sputum colour charts	Prescription	Prescription	Educational package	Non‐standard education on COPD according to practice standards
Rice 2010	Written		Monthly phone call from nurse	Group 1‐1.5 hours, individualised action plan with respiratory nurse	Yes	Prescription		Usual care + 1‐page summary of principles of COPD care according to published guidelines. No AP
Rootmensen 2008	Oral		No	Individual protocol‐based educational session covering disease, medications, vaccination, smoking cessation and exacerbation management, 45 minutes in length	Oral medication provided to some, % unknown	Oral medication provided to some, % unknown	No	Usual care
Trappenburg 2011	Written		Standardised phone calls at 1 and 4 months	Individualised action plan education, length of session not stated	2%'	22%	✓ COPD information	Usual care ‐ pharmacological and non‐pharmacological care according to most recent evidence‐based guidelines, specifically AP denied. All included participants seen by respiratory nurse, who systematically checked and discussed aspects of COPD care, including vaccination, optimisation of medication, inhalation techniques, exercise, nutritional aspects, smoking (cessation) and exacerbation management.
Watson 1997		Yes	No	Individual session education about use of the action plan with COPD booklet by a senior respiratory outreach nurse; length not stated	Prescription	Prescription	✓ Guide to living positively with COPD	Usual care by GP, specifically denied access to AP and booklet
Wood‐Baker 2006	Written		No	Individual educational session with respiratory nurse, covering COPD, smoking cessation, immunisation, nutrition, exercise, sputum clearance, breathing, medication, inhaler use. Individualised action plan developed with GP input. Length not known	2%	22%	COPD information booklet	Usual care, COPD information booklet and individual educational session with nurse, but no AP

ABS: antibiotics; AP: action plan; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GP: general practitioner; OCS: oral corticosteroids; SME: self‐management education.