Self-efficacy as a predictor of improvement in health status and overall quality of life in pulmonary rehabilitation--an exploratory study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate developments in 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 (PR). METHODS: A longitudinal study of 100 COPD patients before and up to 3 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. RESULTS: Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease (estimate=-4.05, p=0.019) immediately after the PR programme. 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). CONCLUSIONS: Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease immediately after a COPD PR, and better exercise capacity and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly improved HS and QOL. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Increasing self-efficacy is suggested to be an important aim in relation to COPD PR.