Martin 2004.

Study characteristics
Methods	Design: RCT Follow‐up: 12 months Control group: usual care
Participants	Recruitment: general practice Assessed for eligibility: not reported Randomly assigned: SM: 44; UC: 49 Completed: SM: 35; UC: 45 Mean age: SM: 71.1 (95% CI 68.7 to 73.5) years; UC: 69.1 (95% CI 63.5 to 74.7) years Gender (% male): SM: 34.1; UC: 65.3 COPD diagnosis: GOLD criteria (FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7), confirmed by authors Inclusion of participants in acute phase: no (use of the plan was commenced at a time when each participant was in a stable condition) Major inclusion criteria: diagnosis of COPD, aged 55 or over, at least one hospital admission or two acute exacerbations of COPD requiring GP care during the previous 12 months, an MMSE score > 22 Major exclusion criteria: terminally ill, coexisting lung cancer, admission to hospital with cardiac disease within previous 12 months, receiving home oxygen therapy
Interventions	Mode: individual sessions at a general practice, hospital, ambulance service, emergency department or home‐based Duration: 4 face‐to‐face individual sessions and respiratory nurse visits at 3, 6 and 12 months Professional: respiratory physician, respiratory nurse, GP, ED consultant, medical staff Assignment of case managers: no Self‐management components: use of a COPD exacerbation action plan, COPD medication intake, guidance regarding treatment for coexisting conditions (e.g. when/how to use oxygen therapy, and when to use diuretics) Self‐management topics: smoking cessation, coping with breathlessness/breathing techniques, self‐recognition of exacerbations Behavioural change techniques: 3 clusters: goals and planning, feedback and monitoring, shaping knowledge
Outcomes	1. Health care utilisation (GP visits, hospital admissions, ambulance calls) 2. Quality of life (SGRQ) 3. Medication use (courses of oral steroids and antibiotics)
Notes	Three participants subsequently withdrew for personal reasons. However, it was not reported from which group(s) they withdrew. A further 13 people died during the follow‐up period (nine in the intervention group and four in the control group). Source of funding: this study was supported by South Link Health Inc., a nonprofit consortium of general practitioners. Conflict of interest: none declared