Exploration of the feasibility to combine patients with COPD and chronic heart failure in self management groups with focus on exercise self-efficacy

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> High exercise self-efficacy is required for optimal exercise training in both patients with COPD and chronic heart failure (CHF). <b>Aim:</b> To compare exercise self-efficacy, symptoms, functional capacity and health status in COPD and CHF patients, and explore the association of symptoms and exercise self-efficacy. <b>Method:</b> Baseline data from a self-management group-intervention on 150 primary care patients with COPD (n=60), CHF (n=60) and a possible double diagnosis (n=30). Exercise self-efficacy (Swedish SCI Exercise Self-Efficacy Score), dyspnea (mMRC), fatigue (Fatigue Score), pain (five-level question), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), functional capacity (six-minute Walking Test) and health status (VAS) were assessed. <b>Results:</b> The COPD group had fewer men than the CHF group (23vs 40 males; p&lt;0.05) and lower mean age (69 (SD8) vs 78 (SD8) years; p&lt;0.05), but had similar levels of self-efficacy, health status and symptoms. Functional capacity was similar after age-correction. Associations with self-efficacy were found for mMRC=1 (R -4.45; 95% CI-8.41- -0.50), mMRC=2 (-6.60;-10.68- -2.52), mMRC=3 (-9.94;-15.07- -4.80), fatigue (-0.87;-1.41- -0.32), moderate (-3.87;-7.52- -0.21) and severe pain (-5.32;-10.13- -0.52), depression (-0.98;-1.42- -0.55) and anxiety (-0.65;-0,10- -0.32) after adjustment for diagnosis, sex and age. <b>Conclusion:</b> Similar levels of exercise self-efficacy, symptoms, functional capacity, and health status were found. Symptoms are associated with self-efficacy regardless of diagnosis, sex and age. Joint self-management groups with focus on self-efficacy seem feasible.