The effect of self-care program based on the Orem self-care model on fatigue and quality of life in patients with COPD

Abstract

Context: Fatigue and the reduced quality of life are among the most common problems of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affecting all aspects of life in these patients. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of self-care program based on the Orem self-care model on fatigue and quality of life in patients with COPD. Setting and Design: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 66 patients with COPD who were admitted to hospitals of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: The patients were randomized either to the intervention group or control group using random numbers by random allocation software. The intervention group received self-care program based on the Orem's self-care theory, including four educational sessions as well as a 2-month follow-up. The control group received only usual care. The needed data were collected using the Fatigue Severity Scale and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire once before and once after the interventions and then analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics. Statistical Analysis Used: These data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and analytic statistics. Results: In the intervention group, the mean score of fatigue reduced and the mean score of quality of life significantly increased after performing the interventions (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mean scores of fatigue and quality of life were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). The mean changes in terms of fatigue and quality of life scores were significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Orem's self-care theory is an effective nursing theoretical framework used to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life, thus it can be used for other chronic diseases and conditions as well.