Investigation of the difference between treadmill self-efficacy and actual performance in Taiwanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Effect of Self-efficacy Intervention on Quality of Life of Patients With Intestinal Stoma

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and the most prevalent cause of cancer mortality in China. The Miles operation and permanent colostomy are effective treatment. However, these affect the quality of life of patients as they alter normal defecation. Self-efficacy is used to define an individuals' assessments of their ability to perform a specific behavior successfully. It is regarded as an important belief that can predict health behaviors. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a self-efficacy intervention on the quality of life of patients with a permanent colostomy. Forty-eight patients in treatment for permanent colostomy surgery were divided into the control and intervention groups. The control group received routine nursing; the intervention group was exposed to a 3-month self-efficacy intervention, as well as routine nursing. The two groups completed the Chinese version of a self-efficacy questionnaire at 10 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. Three months after surgery, the two groups also completed a quality-of-life questionnaire. There were significant differences in the quality of life between the two groups. The self-efficacy intervention nursing method improved self-efficacy and the quality of life of patients with intestinal stoma and is worthy of clinical utilization and application.

Promoting quality of life for patients with moderate to severe COPD

Understanding key components of good practice in the management of moderate and severe COPD is important for nurses working in the community. This article reviews the available evidence, which highlights the importance of smoking cessation, allowing breathless patients time to express themselves, encouraging exercise and timely palliative care. Additionally, evidence suggests that hospital-at-home can provide a safe alternative to hospital care and is the preference of some. However, more research is needed to provide evidence regarding the most effective smoking cessation programmes.

Effects of treatment on two types of self-efficacy in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Self-management is crucial in people with chronic diseases, and self-efficacy has been shown to impact patients' self-management. The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the effect of intervention on self-efficacy and 2) determine the relationship between domain-specific self-efficacy, walking performance, and symptom severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects (n=102, forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted 44.8+/-14) received one of three self-management interventions. Self-efficacy for walking and managing shortness of breath, walking performance, and shortness of breath severity were measured at baseline and after intervention. Self-efficacy increased after intervention (P<0.01). Self-efficacy for walking was positively related to walking performance (P<0.05). Self-efficacy for managing shortness of breath was positively related to symptom severity (P<0.05). This study examined two types of disease-specific self-efficacy in patients with COPD and demonstrated that improving self-efficacy is an important outcome of self-management interventions. Studies in other domains of self-efficacy are needed.

Comparison of oxygen consumption in performing daily activities between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a healthy population

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to compare the daily activity oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy individuals; to compare dyspnea levels found in COPD patients and healthy individuals when they performed daily activities and exercise tests; and to establish standard VO(2) values for daily activities for COPD patients.

DESIGN

This was an exploratory and correlative study.

SETTING

The study took place at the Research Center of Sports Medicine at Taipei Medical University, in Taipei, Taiwan.

SUBJECTS

The study included 27 COPD patients and 18 healthy subjects whose ages, weights, and heights were matched.

OUTCOME MEASURES

VO(2peak) and the VO(2) for performing daily activities including sitting, standing, walking, walking with a 2-kg load, and walking upstairs for 2 stories.

INTERVENTION

All data were collected by means of questionnaires and treadmill exercise tests. VO(2) was measured using an AEROSPORT KB1-C metabolic measurement system.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in VO(2) found between the 2 groups when they were performing daily activities, but the VO(2peak) was significantly lower in the COPD group (13.90 +/- 2.93 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) compared with the healthy control group (16.15 +/- 1.86 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) (P =.01). The dyspnea level of the COPD group when they were performing daily activities and exercise tests was more severe than that of the healthy control group. The mean VO(2) values for daily activities in COPD patients were as follows: sitting 3.41 (+/-0.82), standing 3.67 (+/-0.90), walking 10.06 (+/-2.19), walking with a 2-kg load 10.28, and walking upstairs 8.16 (+/-1.36) mL kg(-1) min(-1).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study reveal that there were no differences in VO(2) values for performing daily activities between COPD patients and healthy individuals. However, an increase in dyspnea level occurred during daily activities, and it was found to be more severe for COPD patients than for healthy individuals. A key factor was probably that COPD patients had an obviously lower VO(2peak) and higher relative exercise intensity for daily activities than did healthy individuals.