[How do patients with COPD circumvent their disease? Psychological factors]

Chronic illness permanently changes a patient;s lifestyle and requires continuous adaptation. Chronic diseases like COPD and its treatment place extensive behavioral demands on patients. The need for precisely scheduled daily medication, regular physical exercise, visits to health care providers and monitoring are some of the demands. Exacerbations, inspiratory dyspnea, immobility, and the management of unpredictable situations aggravate the situation. These demands invade nearly every aspect of patients} lives. The quality of patients}self-management of disease depends largely on their assessment of health related quality of life, functioning, ability to comply and coping. COPD patients often have perceived barriers and factors, which will hinder or facilitate an optimal self-management. For instance their individual treatment goals can differ from those of the physician, or patients feel distressed about having a chronic disease. The comprehension of psychological factors in medical treatment is essential not only to be more effective in improving patients' confidence in their ability to follow a self-care regimen but also have beneficial effects in achieving treatment goals.