Factors related to self-management behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Wenzhou, China

Abstract Objective To describe the self-management (SM) behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it examines the correlation between COPD knowledge, self-efficacy, perceived social support, and SM behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate COPD in Wenzhou, China. Methods A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 121 persons with mild-to-moderate COPD who visited the respiratory outpatient department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, China. Research instruments include a demographic data questionnaire, COPD SM scale, COPD knowledge questionnaire, 6-item chronic disease self-efficacy scale, and perceived social support scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Correlation were used for data analysis. Results The findings show that the mean score of COPD SM scale was 2.70 (SD = 0.45). The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the COPD knowledge (r = 0.47, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.28, P = 0.001), and perceived social support (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) were positively correlated to the COPD SM behavior among persons with mild-to-moderate COPD in Wenzhou, China. Conclusions The findings indicate that disease knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived social support were related to SM behavior in persons with mild-to-moderate COPD, which provides a theoretical basis for developing SM interventions for persons with mild-to-moderate COPD and improving this population’s SM behavior.