Impact of COPD stage on self management with COPD patients: The mediating role of symptoms management

Abstract Aims It is extremely important to determine the relationship between COPD and self‐management (SM) in the disease process. However, the impact of symptom management (SpM) on this relationship is still unclear. The study aimed to examine the mediating role of SpM in the effect of the COPD stage on SM. Design A predictive correlational study was reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Methods This study was conducted between 15 February 2023 and 15 June 15 2023, with 306 patients. Data were collected using the Symptom Management Scale for Self‐Efficacy and the Chronic Disease Self‐Management Scale. Descriptive statistics and Process Macro Model 4 in the SPSS program were used for data analysis. Results Most of the patients were in the moderate stage of COPD; their SM scores were at low levels; SpM scores were at moderate levels. The model was significant, and the variables explained 65% of the model. The COPD stage was significantly positively correlated with SpM and negatively correlated with SM. There was a significant positive impact between SpM and SM. The positive and significant standardised indirect effect of SpM on SM evidenced a full mediating effect. Conclusions Symptom management has a full mediating role in the effect of the COPD stage on SM. It was revealed that the level of SM can be increased by achieving SpM. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Symptoms are vital in COPD. Progression of COPD increases symptom severity. Being successful in SpM greatly contributes to the achievement of self‐management. Therefore, nurses should definitely consider symptom control in strengthening self‐management in the care of patients with COPD. Patient or Public Contribution Patients' COPD stage was determined by a pulmonologist involved in the study. Voluntary patients with COPD hospitalised in the pulmonology clinic were included in the study.