Table 1.

Definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease self-management interventions^*

• A chronic obstructive pulmonary disease self-management intervention is structured but personalized and often multicomponent, with goals of motivating, engaging, and supporting patients to positively adapt their health behavior(s) and develop skills to better manage their disease.

• The ultimate goals of self-management are: 1) optimizing and preserving physical health; 2) reducing symptoms and functional impairments in daily life and increasing emotional well-being, social well-being, and quality of life; and 3) establishing effective alliances with healthcare professionals, family, friends, and community.

• The process requires iterative interactions between patients and healthcare professionals competent in delivering self-management interventions. These patient-centered interactions focus on: 1) identifying needs, health beliefs, and enhancing intrinsic motivations; 2) eliciting personalized health goals; 3) formulating appropriate strategies (e.g., exacerbation management) to achieve these goals; and, if required, 4) evaluating and readjusting strategies. Behavior change techniques are used to elicit patient motivation, confidence, and competence. Literacy-sensitive approaches are used to enhance comprehensibility.

^*Adapted from Effing and colleagues (2).