An important contributor towards success of treatment
is adherence, defined as the patient's active role in
consenting to and following prescribed treatments. A recent study reported that adherence to written COPD action plans was associated with a significant reduction in exacerbation total recovery time. Several factors have been reported to increase the likelihood of adherence to an action plan, including younger age, previously receiving an influenza vaccination and having a cardiac comorbidity or more severe
airflow obstruction. However, more information is needed to define the influence of other factors on the adherence (e.g. depressive symptoms, self-efficacy), so these factors need to be taken into account in this self-management plan to individual patients