Table 1. Study Participants’ Characteristics.
| Characteristic | No. (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Usual Care | |
| No. of participants | 120 | 120 |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 63.9 (9.6) | 66.0 (10.0) |
| Race/ethnicity | ||
| White | 98 (81.6) | 100 (83.3) |
| African American | 20 (16.7) | 18 (15.0) |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 2 (1.7) | 2 (1.7) |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 48 (40.0) | 44 (36.7) |
| Female | 72 (60.0) | 76 (63.3) |
| Education <12th grade | 44 (36.7) | 53 (44.2) |
| Income ≤$20 000 | 75 (62.5) | 76 (63.3) |
| Living alone | 21 (17.5) | 23 (19.2) |
| Has someone who helps with health care | 75 (62.5) | 77 (64.7) |
| Hospitalized in the past year | 95 (79.2) | 100 (83.3) |
| Body mass index, median (IQR)a | 28.8 (23.1-35.3) | 27.5 (23.7-34.1) |
| No. of years with COPD, median (IQR) | 3 (2-3) | 3 (2-3) |
| Continuous home oxygen therapyb | 58 (48.3) | 41 (34.2) |
| FEV1 % predicted, mean (SD) | 33.3 (16.0) | 35.8 (14.2) |
| FEV1/FVC % predicted, mean (SD) | 56.1 (17.4) | 57.4 (15.7) |
| Respiratory medicine class | ||
| Inhaled steroids | 61 (50.8) | 63 (52.5) |
| Combined β-agonist and anticholinergic | 61 (50.8) | 40 (33.3) |
| Anticholinergic | 46 (38.3) | 44 (36.7) |
| Short-acting β-agonist | 89 (74.2) | 70 (58.3) |
| Theophylline or similar treatment | 7 (5.8) | 7 (5.8) |
| Long-acting β-agonist | 59 (49.2) | 61 (50.8) |
| Currently smoking | 49 (40.8) | 43 (35.8) |
| Patient Activation Measurec | ||
| Level 1 | 22 (18.3) | 16 (13.3) |
| Level 2 | 34 (28.3) | 26 (21.7) |
| Level 3 | 41 (34.2) | 59 (49.2) |
| Level 4 | 23 (19.2) | 19 (15.8) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index score, median (IQR)d | 2.5 (1-4) | 2 (1-4) |
| Diagnosis of heart failure | 53 (44.2) | 40 (33.3) |
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in first second of expiration; FVC, forced vital capacity; IQR, interquartile range.
Calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Continuous home oxygen therapy refers to using supplemental oxygen at home, during both daytime and nighttime.
Patient Activation Measure score assesses an individual’s knowledge, skill, and confidence for managing one’s health and health care. Lower scores indicate less-activated patients, while higher scores indicate more-activated patients: level 1 = patients tend to be overwhelmed and unprepared to play an active role in their own health; level 2 = patients lack knowledge and confidence for self-management; level 3 = patients are beginning to take action, but lack confidence and skill to support behaviors; and level 4 = patients have adopted many of the behaviors to support their health, but may not be able to maintain them in the face of life stressors.
Charlson Comorbidity Index score ranges from 0 to 29; higher numbers indicate increased morbidity.