Drawing breath: promoting meaning and self-management in COPD.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is rising and its associated cost to the NHS is not sustainable. Health policy supports the promotion of self-management programmes for long-term conditions, which build on a person's strengths, interests and preferences. This article presents an account of how one individual with COPD was able to harness her artistic skills and health interests, both to manage her own condition and also to contribute more broadly to health promotion and COPD prevention.