US study finds that coaching can help people with COPD

Researchers in the US have found that coaching sessions on how to manage stress and relaxation techniques can help to improve the quality of life of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The study, published in the journal, Psychosomatic Medicine, involved almost 300 people with COPD. Half of the participants took part in regular telephone-based coaching skills training, during which they were given information on COPD and were guided through relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.

The other half of the participants received phone consultations on topics such as medication and nutrition, and not specific coping techniques.

The researchers found that the group who were taught coping skills reported improvements in their mental health and lower levels of fatigue and shortness of breath when compared with the other group.

While the coaching sessions seemed to have no effect on the number of COPD-related deaths and hospital stays, the researchers believe that this method could be an inexpensive way of improving the quality of life for people with the disease.

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Read the journal abstract.