The relationship between self-management abilities, quality of chronic care delivery, and wellbeing among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in The Netherlands

Jane Murray Cramm, Anna Petra Nieboer Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Health Policy and Management (iBMG), Rotterdam, The Netherlands Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the relationship between quality of chronic care delivery, self-management abilities, and wellbeing among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: The study was conducted in 2012 and included 548 (out of 1303; 42% response rate) patients with COPD enrolled in a COPD care program in the region of Noord-Kennemerland in The Netherlands. We employed a multilevel random-effects model (548 patients nested in 47 healthcare practices) to investigate the relationship between quality of chronic care delivery, self-management abilities, and patients’ wellbeing. In the multilevel analyses we controlled for patients’ background characteristics and health behaviors. Results: Multilevel analyses clearly showed a significant relationship between quality of chronic care delivery and wellbeing of patients with COPD (P ≤ 0.001). When self-management abilities were included in the equation while controlling for background characteristics, health behaviors, and quality of chronic care delivery, these abilities were found to have a strong positive relationship with patients’ wellbeing (P ≤ 0.001). Low educational level, single marital status, and physical exercise were not significantly associated with wellbeing when self-management abilities were included in the equation. Conclusion: Self-management abilities and the quality of chronic care delivery are important for the wellbeing of patients with COPD. Furthermore, self-management abilities acted as mediators between wellbeing and low educational level, single status, and physical exercise among these patients. Keywords: quality of care, self-management, disease management, COPD, wellbeing, health behaviors