Does being health literate increase patients’ COPD self-management?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the capacity to obtain, understand and apply relevant information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increase the likelihood of self-management in patients in a secondary care setting? A mixed methods exploratory study. \n
IRAS ID
243337
Contact name
David White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 4 days
Research summary
Does knowledge of COPD help patients look after their COPD better?\n\nChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fifth leading cause of death in the United Kingdom, accounting for about 5% of all deaths. Self-management of this condition has proven to be challenging and it is important that people with COPD engage in treatment to manage symptoms and maximise their quality of life and life expectancy. \n\nHealth literacy is defined as having the knowledge, ability and confidence to be active in one’s own care. A higher-level degree of health literacy known as communicative health literacy is defined as patients having the skills to grasp and apply information about condition management. This is correlated with self-management of physical health conditions. This study will explore the nature of communicative health literacy in a secondary care patient cohort with COPD and whether it influences the patients’ own management of COPD.\n\nA mixed methods approach will be used. A questionnaires-based survey will be disseminated to current patients with stable COPD. The following assessment measures will be included: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), The Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale and the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SEMCD6). A semi-structured interview with a pre-determined set of open questions will be undertaken with a small sample of the above participants to explore their experience of health literacy in relation to COPD and self-management and their experience of attending the Respiratory Service.\n\n It is anticipated that quantitative data will allow exploration of any associations between health literacy and self-management and that qualitative data will allow a broader, richer understanding of the strengths and needs of the patient cohort. It is also hoped that areas for strengthening health literacy in both patients and service delivery will be highlighted.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
18/NS/0063
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion