Internet-Based and Established Dyspnea Self-Management Programs in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients

Despite optimal medical treatment, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continue to experience dyspnea or shortness of breath. This study will evaluate two different ways to provide education and support to help patients manage their shortness of breath. One program will be conducted in a face-to-face setting and a second through the Internet. The main difference between the two programs is the way they are administered. The education, exercise, and monitoring components are the same. The overall goal of this study is to find out whether the two programs are comparable in their effect on shortness of breath (dyspnea) with activities of daily living, exercise adherence and performance, and pulmonary exacerbations (frequency and duration) at 3 and 6 months. Perception of support, self-efficacy for exercise and managing dyspnea, and health resource utilization will also be measured at 3 and 6 months. This study is a randomized, longitudinal, repeated measures design with measurement times at 0, 3, and 6 months.