The effect of COPD stage on self-care management in COPD Patients: The mediating role of illness perception

Abstract

Background: Determining the stage of COPD is essential for disease prognosis and management. Self-care management is among the basic elements of non-pharmacological treatment in COPD patients and is associated with illness perception. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of illness perception in the relationship between COPD stage and self-care management. Methods: The research was conducted in the chest diseases outpatient clinic of a hospital located in the eastern Mediterranean region between July 2024 and January 2025. The cross-sectional and predictive correlational research was completed with 145 patients. The patient descriptive form, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Self-Care Management Processes-Guarding Scale were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used in the data analysis, and SPSS Process Macro Model 4 was utilized to test the mediating role. Results: A positive and moderately significant relationship was identified between COPD stage and illness perception. A negative and moderate relationship was found between COPD stage and self-care management. Furthermore, a negative and highly significant relationship was determined between illness perception and self-care management. It was observed that COPD stage and illness perception were significant predictors of self-care management. Since the indirect effect of COPD stage on self-care management was significant, it was revealed that illness perception mediated COPD stage and self-care management. Conclusion: It is essential to assess COPD stage and illness perception when evaluating self-care management in COPD patients and in patient care. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.