Effect of community intervention on symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of community intervention on symptoms and quality of life in patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis.Methods Sixty-three cases of stable patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis were chosen and randomly divided into the observation group (n =32) and the control group (n =31).The observation group was given periodical home visits and telephone follow-up for 6 months,while the control group only received health education on discharge.Patients' symptoms and quality of life were compared between two groups.Results Intervention in the first two groups,there was no statistically significant different (P ＞ 0.05) ; The scores of cough,sputum volume and dyspnea were (0.67 ± 0.44),(0.69 ± 0.32) and (1.04 ± 0.53) in the observation group,and its annual number of hospitalization was (0.85 ± 0.64).The scores of cough,sputum volume and dyspnea were (1.04 ± 0.31),(0.94 ± 0.53) and (1.52 ± 1.04) in the control group,and its annual number of hospitalization was (1.61 ± 0.82).The differences were statistically significant (t =3.85,2.28,2.32,4.11,respectively ; P ＜ 0.05).The score of life quality was (39.84 ± 11.42) for respiratory symptoms,(40.68 ± 11.23) for activity limitation,(32.19 ± 9.50) for disease impact and (34.09 ± 11.26) in total in the observation group.And the score of life quality was (55.64 ± 17.37) for respiratory symptoms,(49.07 ± 10.35) for activity limitation,(39.45 ± 12.51) for disease impact and (45.98 ± 12.77) in total in the control group.The differences were statistically significant (t =4.26,3.05,2.60,3.92,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Community intervention has significant effect on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis,which can improve patients' respiratory symptoms,comfort level and quality of life as well as reduce re-hospitalization rate. Key words: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Bronchiectasis ; Quality of life; Community intervention