Effects of graded pulmonary rehabilitation management based on empowerment theory on lung function and quality of life in patients with stable COPD

Sun Huijuan; Li Jinling; Mo Xinxia; Liu Hongting; Lai Wenjun; Zhu Jingjing; Sun Qiuhong; Ma Jian

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2025.12.04

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of graded pulmonary rehabilitation management based on empowerment theo-ry on lung function and quality of life in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),so as to provide a reference for clinical practice.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with stable COPD admitted to Shanghai Pulmo-nary Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 were enrolled.Using a random number table,patients were assigned to an observation group(n=60)and a control group(n=60).The control group received routine management for one year.The observation group received,in addition,graded pulmonary rehabilitation management based on empowerment theory for one year.Lung function,quality of life,symptom severity,psychological status,and exercise capacity were compared between the two groups before intervention and at 3 months after intervention;body-mass index,obstruction,dyspnea,exercise ca-pacity index(BODE)index scores were compared before intervention and at 1,2,and 3 months after intervention;the rate of readmission for acute exacerbation within one year was also compared.Results Before intervention,there were no signifi-cant differences between the two groups in forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),or FEV1/FVC(P>0.05).At 3 months after intervention,FEV1,FVC,and FEV1/FVC in both groups were significantly higher than before intervention,and values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Before intervention,St.george's respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ),COPD assessment test(CAT),and 12-item general health questionnaire(CHQ-12)scores did not differ significantly between groups(P>0.05).At 3 months after interven-tion,SGRQ,CAT,and CHQ-12 scores in both groups were lower than before intervention,and the scores in the observa-tion group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Before interven-tion,maximal oxygen uptake(VO2max),maximum power(Wmax),and time to exhaustion did not differ significantly be-tween groups(P>0.05).At 3 months after intervention,VO2max and Wmax in both groups were higher than before in-tervention,and were higher in the observation group than in the control group;time to exhaustion was longer in both groups than before intervention and longer in the observation group than in the control group,with statistically significant differ-ences(P<0.05).Before intervention,BODE index scores did not differ significantly between groups(P>0.05).At 2 and 3 months after intervention,BODE index scores in both groups were significantly lower than before intervention,and scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The observation group had a significantly lower rate of readmission for acute exacerbation than the control group within one year(P<0.05).Conclusion Graded pul-monary rehabilitation management based on empowerment theory contributes to comprehensive improvements in lung function,quality of life,psychological status,and BODE index in patients with stable COPD,and helps prevent acute exacerbations.