Self-Care Practice among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Patient Self-Management

Background:

• Self-management is vital for managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), reducing exacerbations and hospitalizations.
• Effective self-care practices are essential for patients with COPD to maintain health and prevent disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the self-care practices among patients diagnosed with COPD.
• To identify factors influencing self-care in COPD patients attending a teaching hospital.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 106 COPD patients at Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital.
• Data collected via structured interviews and observation checklists.
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 23, employing descriptive and inferential statistics.

Main Results:

• 50% of COPD patients exhibited high self-care practice, while 50% demonstrated low self-care practice.
• A significant majority (94.3%) of patients used inhalers incorrectly; only 5.7% used them correctly.
• Marital status, ethnicity, and depression levels were significantly associated with self-care practice.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of COPD patients have inadequate self-care practices and incorrect inhaler technique.
• There is a critical need for self-management intervention programs to enhance COPD patients' knowledge and skills, particularly regarding inhaler use.