Effects of a Transitional Care Program on Self-Care Behaviors, Quality of Life, and 28-day Hospital Readmissions among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Keywords:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, transitional care, self-care, quality of life, readmissionAbstract
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effects of a transitional care program on self-care behaviors, quality of life, and 28-day readmission rates among patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD at Si Sa Ket Hospital. Sixty-two participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 31) or the control group (n = 31). The experimental group received a 12-week hospital-to-home transitional care program consisting of two phases: Phase 1 (in-hospital) provided tailored patient and family education in their native language, and Phase 2 provided continued care at home. Data collection instruments included a demographic form, the Self-Care Behavior for COPD Patients questionnaire, and a quality of life questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way repeated measures ANOVAs.
The experimental group achieved significantly higher self-care behavior scores than the control group p < .001). Additionally, the experimental group’s average quality of life scores at week 4 and week 12 were significantly higher than baseline measurements taken within 24 hours of symptom stabilization. The 28-day readmission rate was also lower in the experimental group (6.45%, n = 2) compared to the control group (16.13%, n = 5). The hospital-to-home transitional care program effectively enhances self-care behaviors and quality of life while reducing short-term readmissions for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. This program offers a viable framework for improving discharge planning and chronic disease management.
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