The effects of education on self-care agency.

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined the effects of group education classes on self‐care agency (SCA) of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and assessed the four independent variables of presence of a significant other, severity of disease, social status, and type of lung disease, and the persons' relationships to SCA and to the change in SCA after education. A sample of 25 individuals with COPD who attended group education classes offered by the American Lung Association of Connecticut served as subjects. Prior to and at the conclusion of the series of classes, they were given questionnaires eliciting perceptions of SCA and biographic data. From the questionnaires, two SCA scores were calculated. A paired t test demonstrated that these individuals had a significantly greater SCA at the conclusion of the classes than at the beginning. Stepwise multiple regression analysis of the biographic variables identified above and SCA revealed a significant negative correlation between chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema and SCA. There were no correlations between biographic variables and the change in SCA scores. It was concluded that teaching increases SCA; the need to direct rehabilitative efforts with greater emphasis toward individuals with chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema was suggested.