Self-care 3 months after COPD patient education: a qualitative descriptive analysis

Introduction: The literature indicates a conflict between the documented effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient education and the patients' own experiences of the benefit in their everyday life.
Aim: To explore from the patients' perspective how group patient education influinces their self-care three months after attending the program.
Methods: In the period 2009-2010, eleven patients diagnosed with COPD completed an 8-week group education program in a Danish community health center. The patients were interviewed 3 months after completion of the program.
Results: Patients reported that their knowledge of COPD had increased, that they had acquired tools to handle their symptoms; and that the social aspect of patient education had motivated them to utilize their new habits and competencies into everyday life. As a side effect of the study it appeared that the research interview focused the patients' attention on their newly acquired skills and made them more aware of their enhanced self-care.
Conclusions: Patients' self-care may be enhanced through group education, even though the patients are not always able to see the immediate outcome. Some patients may require professional help to implement their newly acquired knowledge and skills in everyday life. A planned dialouge concentrating on self-care in everyday life 3 months after finishing the course may enhance patients' awareness and appraisal of their acquired competencies.