Usual care included reviews at a specialist respiratory clinic on a three monthly basis to monitor spirometry, inflammatory blood markers and sputum microbiology. The patients were prescribed inhaled therapy and antibiotics if required, and treatment adjusted to the needs of the patient as necessary, including hospital admission.

Receives a disease specific Expert Patient Programme in addition to usual care. The disease specific Expert Patient Programme was delivered one session per week (lasting 2½ hours) for eight weeks and included 2 weeks disease specific education followed by 6 weeks standardised Expert Patient Programme.

Intervention was a disease specific Expert Patient Programme in addition to usual care. The disease specific Expert Patient Programme was delivered one session per week (lasting 2½ hours) for eight weeks and included 2 weeks disease specific education followed by 6 weeks standardised Expert Patient Programme.

Self efficacy is measured using the Chronic Disease Self Efficacy Scale. Confidence is measured on a 1-10 point Likert scale for 10 subscales. There are no specific units for this measurement.

Perception of illness is measured using the Illness Perception Questionnaire - revised IPQ-R. This questionnaire has 8 domains. Minimum score 52 and maximum 204. There are no specific units for this measurement.