The Effect of a Self-Care-Based Empowerment Program on Resilience of Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 MSc Student, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Lecturer, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/jrc.2025.144878.1027

Abstract

Background and Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prevalent diseases among the elderly and is associated with reduced functioning and quality of life. Given the physical and psychological challenges experienced by these patients, strengthening resilience and self-care abilities is essential. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the effect of a self-care–based empowerment program on resilience in elderly patients with COPD.
Method: This experimental study was conducted on 60 elderly patients with COPD hospitalized in medical centers affiliated with Islamic Azad University of Tehran. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The self-care–based empowerment program was implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected before and after the intervention using a demographic questionnaire and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (2003) and were analyzed using SPSS version 26.
Findings: The mean resilience score in the intervention group showed a statistically significant increase following the implementation of the program (p < 0.001), whereas no significant change was observed in the control group. In addition, a statistically significant difference in post-intervention resilience scores was found between the two groups.
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the self-care–based empowerment program effectively enhanced resilience among elderly patients with COPD. The implementation of such programs may increase awareness, self-efficacy, and a sense of control, thereby contributing to improved psychological adaptation and quality of life in this population.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agarwal, D., Singh, R., Patel, V., Kumar, A., Sharma, N., Gupta, M., et al. (2023). COPD generates substantial cost for health systems. The Lancet Global Health, 11(3), e307–e317. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00304-2
Behzadi, F., & Aghahosseini, S. S. (2025). Correlation of unmet supportive care needs with demographic characteristics in cancer patients. Medical Sciences, 35(1), 86–92. DOI: 10.61186/iau.35.1.86
Casey, B., Marston, G., & Vyas, D. (2024). Self-care practices in the context of older adults living independently. arXiv. DOI: 10.48550/ARXIV.2411.01815
Chen, Z., Tang, F., Yang, Z., Wu, H., Zhao, X., Li, C., et al. (2021). Resilience as a mediator of the association between spirituality and self-management among older people with COPD. BMC Geriatrics, 21, 686. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9121631
Dastenaei, F. D., Moradi, A., Hosseini, M., Ghaffari, S., Rahmani, K., Esmailzadeh, H., et al. (2025). Association of lifestyle components with prevalence of COPD: A population-based study. Respiratory Medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2025.108013
Deaton, C., Smith, J., Brown, L., Miller, T., O’Connor, P., Green, K., et al. (2022). Relationship between resilience and self-care in people with chronic conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(17–18), 2659–26. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16258
Fan, V. S. (2022). Peer support and COPD: Integrating peers in self-management interventions. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 19(8), 1210–1215. DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202207‑591ED
Hourzad, A., Pouladi, S., Ostovar, A., & Ravanipour, M. (2018). The effects of an empowering self-management model on self-efficacy and sense of coherence among retired elderly with chronic diseases: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 18, 246. DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S183276
Larsen, D. L., Gandhi, H., Pollack, M., Brown, T., Wilson, R., Patel, K., et al. (2022). The quality of care and economic burden of COPD in the United States. American Health & Drug Benefits, 15(2), 57–64.
Meng, K., Zhao, Y., Liu, H., Chen, R., Wang, J., Li, T., et al. (2025). Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021: COPD in older adults. PLoS ONE, 20(1), e0316135. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316135
Nguyen, V., Pham, T., Doan, N., Tran, H., Le, M., Hoang, T., et al. (2023). Empowerment interventions designed for persons living with chronic illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 454. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09895-6
Pham, H. Q., Nguyen, T. T., Do, H. T. T., Le, P. N., Tran, Q. H., Vo, M. T., et al. (2024). Economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 19, 123–145. DOI: 10.2147/COPD.SXXXXXX
Pouw, T., Alblas, M. A., van de Hei, S. J., de Vries, J., ten Hacken, N. H. T., & van der Palen, J. (2023). The association of resilience with self-care and quality of life in COPD patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.2015
Raddadi, Y., Amini, M., Zarei, F., Khaleghi, S., Farahani, L. A., Rezaei, N., et al. (2022). Health literacy and quality of life in Iranian persons with COPD. Patient Education and Counseling, 105(6), 1577–1584. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.03.012
Sabzalipoor, F., Fotokian, Z., Alipoor, Z. J., & Monadi, M. (2023). The association between caregiver burden and resilience in family caregivers of older adults with COPD. Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 12(1), 35–41. DOI: 10.4103/nms.nms_23_22
Salvado, S., Martin, L., Costa, R., Pereira, M., Silva, T., & Lopez, J. (2025). Pulmonary rehabilitation nursing interventions promoting self-care in older adults with COPD: A systematic review. Healthcare (Basel), 13(17), 2176. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13172176
Sharifi, H., Ghanei, M., Jamaati, H., Masjedi, M. R., Eslaminejad, A., & Radmand, G. (2019). Burden of obstructive lung disease study in Iran: Prevalence and risk factors of COPD. Lung India, 36(1), 4–10. DOI: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_129_18
Southwell, P. J., Ginsburg, C., & Subramanian, S. V. (2018). Successful ageing with COPD: Physical and psychosocial resilience in older people. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(9), 1463–1485. DOI: 10.1080/15412555.2018.1487390
Steca, P., D’Addario, M., Greco, A., Monzani, D., Giordani, L., & Caprara, G. V. (2021). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an empowerment-based self-care education program on health outcomes among patients with heart failure: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 4(10), e2129125. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29125
Wen, J., Zhao, L., Liu, Y., Wang, R., Chen, H., Xu, Q., et al. (2025). The impact of perceived social support on chronic disease self-management among older inpatients in China: The chain-mediating roles of psychological resilience and health empowerment. BMC Geriatrics, 25, 284. DOI: 10.1186/s12877‑025‑03032‑1
Wu, J. H., Zhang, L., Huang, Y., Li, P., Chen, M., & Zhou, Y. (2025). Exploring self-management’s mediating role in health literacy and quality of life in COPD patients. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. DOI: 10.1186/s41043‑025‑00987‑5
Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling
Volume 1, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
November 2025
Pages 191-199

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 06 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 10 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics