COPE With COPD Trial

Collaborative Self-Management Patient Education Will Improve Health Outcomes in COPD

The overall objective of this study is to evaluate a collaborative self-management intervention in patients with moderate to severe COPD in a primary care population. To achieve this objective the investigators developed a diagnostic and treatment pathway for the management of COPD in primary care that is based on national guidelines and focused on patient self-management.

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Inclusion Criteria:

• Current or Ex-smokers
• 40 years of age or over
• Minimum 10 pack year smoking history
• Post-bronchodilator FEV1 of 70% or less (4 puffs of Salbutamol) and Forced Expiratory Volume at 1sec to Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio 70% or less
• A history of two exacerbations (involving treatment and/or visit to a health care practitioner) in the past 3 years OR 1 exacerbation in the past year
• Provides informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• COPD exacerbation in the past 4 weeks
• Diagnosis of asthma prior to the age of 40 years
• Co-existing illness that could interfere with study results (ie. Congestive Heart Failure with exacerbation of symptoms)
• Scheduled for COPD rehabilitation
• A terminal illness