The Effect of Education and Motivational Interviewing on COPD Management and Outcome Parameters in COPD Patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important health problem. The disease management consists of avoiding risk factors, therapy for maintenance of disease stability, and prevention and treatment of exacerbations. Patient education and motivational interviewing are thought to be effective approaches in disease management. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated education and motivational interviewing conducted by a multidisciplinary team, and the outcomes in COPD patients.

This was a randomized controlled study. The study included 40 COPD patients (21 cases and 19 controls) hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD between June 2015 and June 2017. The patients were randomized in a ratio of 1 : 1 based on age, gender, and socioeconomic status. After a baseline assessment for all patients, patients in the study group were subjected to a total of 3 educational sessions and 4 motivational interview sessions through intermittent invitations over a period of one year. At the end of the first year, baseline assessment tests, the technique of drug use, the number of moderate/severe COPD exacerbations, and mortality status were evaluated for all patients.

There was no difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, and pulmonary function tests (FEV1%, FEV1/FVC) and partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures (pO2 and pCO2). At the end of the 12 months, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the levels of theoretical knowledge of COPD and the Morisky scale scores. All patients in the study group survived, whereas 4 patients died in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups.

One-to-one education and motivational interviews (MI) on COPD, which are based on a multidisciplinary approach, are proposed, because they increase the level of knowledge of the disease and adherence to treatment, and have positive effects on mortality rates.