Original Article


Effects of the health belief model following acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a hospital in China

Mei Ji, Ai-Hong Wang, Jun Ye, Ya-Hui Shen, Chun-Mei Chen, Chen Yu, Li-Fang Li

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of education with health belief model (HBM) on anxiety and fatigue among patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
Methods: Patients with AECOPD admitted into Taizhou People’s Hospital, Jiangsu, China between December 2012 and October 2013 were randomly selected for the present study according to random number table. A total of 99 cases with anxiety were included. These patients were divided into two groups: experimental group educated by HBM (n=47), and control group educated by conventional method (n=52). The scores for anxiety and fatigue were evaluated using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20).
Results: After educational intervention by HBM, patients achieved a significant decrease in anxiety and fatigue scores, when compared to patients in the control group, who were educated by the conventional method at the time of admission, discharge, and 6 weeks after discharge (P<0.05).
Conclusions: HBM program effectively may alleviate anxiety and fatigue, providing necessary information for symptom management among patients with AECOPD.

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