Comparison of individual vs group self-management education on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Download PDF

Introduction: One of the most important goals in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is self-management education to improve the health-related quality of life. While before providing education to patients should be deciding on the appropriate educational methods. This study aimed to compare the effect of individual vs group self-management education on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: This study is a non-randomized controlled trial that performed in 2016 on selected hospitals of Shahrekord University of Medical Science on 100 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We used available sampling method and participants were consecutively respectively allocated to individual and group education groups. The individual education group received the face to face self-management education and group education received group discussion self-management education. Health-related quality of life of patients before and three months after education with the use of St. George's questionnaire (SGRQ) was measured. Data using SPSS software and by chi-square, Fisher, paired-t and independent-t tests was analyzed. Results: Health-related quality of life of patients at baseline in both groups showed no significant difference (p=0/380). Three months after the intervention, also significant differences between health-related quality of life of the two groups was not found (p=0/198). Between health-related quality of life scores before and after education in both groups significant differences were showed (respectively p=0/003. P<0/001). Mean changes in health-related quality of life scores between the two groups showed no significant difference (p=0/461). Conclusion: Effect of individual and group self-management education in improving the health-related quality life in COPD patients is the same. So the use of both methods to improve the health-related quality of life of these patients is recommended.