Subjects in the intervention group received a simple, structured,
disease-specific self-management education plan for
six months. Subjects’ family members were encouraged to
take part. The program focused on self-management ability
and was how best to deal with COPD. The program included
four methods of self-directed education: Face-to-face teaching,
telephone follow-ups, text messaging and diary
recording. During forty minute face-to-face sessions, subjects
learned respiratory techniques, medication adherence tips,
and ways to recognize and prevent exacerbation. In addition,
subjects were trained on how to make use of and maintain
inhalation devices, breathing techniques, and maintaining
proper position. Following these sessions, subjects received a
booklet reviewing this information for self-education in the
coming months. The intervention group also received standardized
15 min telephone calls at one, two, three and five
months post-hospital discharge or doctor visit. The content of
these telephone calls were based on the self-administered
booklet; aimed to enforce self-management knowledge and
skills and integrate those into subjects’ daily life. The investigator
kept a detailed record of every call. Subjects in the
intervention group, or their family members, received a
weekly standardized text message following hospital
discharge. The contents of these text messages were easy-tounderstand
and based on the self-management education
program. All subjects in the intervention group kept a detailed
healthy diary each month, including symptoms consisting of
cough, sputum and dyspnoea, self-assessment, and medical
history consisting of drug name, dosage, usage and instructions,
and physician visit details. The diary was given to
the investigator at three and six months.