Bentsen and associates evaluated health status (HS) and overall quality of life (QOL), and the impact of self-efficacy on HS and QOL in relation to COPD pulmonary rehabilitation. A longitudinal study was conducted of 100 COPD patients before and up to three months after COPD PR. Self-efficacy was measured by the COPD self-efficacy scale, HS by the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, and QOL by the Quality of Life Scale. Mixed effect models were used. Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease (estimate=-4.05, p=0.019) immediately after the pulmonary rehabilitation program. Higher levels of self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease and improved physical activity, total HS, and QOL (p<0.05). Better exercise capacity at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease, improved physical activity, and QOL (p<0.05). Older age at baseline predicted significantly fewer respiratory symptoms and improved total HS (p<0.05).

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease immediately after a COPD pulmonary rehabilitation. Better exercise capacity and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly improved HS and QOL.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A PATIENT: Increasing self-efficacy was found to be an important aim in relation to COPD pulmonary rehabilitation.

SB Bentsen et al. Self-efficacy as a predictor of improvement in health status and overall quality of life in pulmonary rehabilitation-An exploratory study. Patient Education & Counseling, March 29, 2020.