Self management in COPD: one step beyond?

On the basis of the beneficial health effects of self-management in the treatment of other chronic diseases like asthma it might be expected that the active participation of COPD-patients in the management of their disease may reduce the burden of the disease. Self-management of COPD includes sufficient coping behaviour, compliance with inhaled medication, attention to changes in the severity of the disease, adequate inhalation technique, and self adjustment of the medication in case of exacerbations. The results of a pilot study on the effects of self-management in COPD suggest a reduction of morbidity due to COPD. The definite place of self-management in the treatment of COPD has to established by larger, prospective, controlled trials.