Psychological status patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious problem of the public health. According to the holistic health
model, the performance and psychological status has a significant impact for the functionality of the patient suffering from a chronic disease.
The important factors influencing the treatment course are patient’s proper health behavior.

Aim of the study. The aim of study was an evaluation of psychological status impact for the disease COPD course, patient’s health behavior,
and correlations between them.

Material and methods. The study included 105 COPD patients with exacerbation of disease, hospitalized in the region of Silesian agglomeration.
The author’s questionnaire and the standardized devices: General Self-Efficacy Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale and the Fagestrőm
Test for Nicotine Dependence were used.

Results. COPD patients had low feeling of self-efficacy and average acceptance of illness. Significant correlation between the frequency of
COPD exacerbation and the psychological status was found (0.5 < r_p < 0.7; p = 0.05). The analysis did not show the dependency between
the psychical status and the physical activeness of patients. The dependency between the feeling of self-efficacy, the acceptance of illness
and the resignation from smoking (chi² = 3.84; p = 0.05) was found.

Conclusions. There is a need of major engagement of doctors and nurses in improving of the COPD patients mental physical status and in
motivating them to change health behavior.