Activation for self-management in asthma or COPD patients referred to a pulmonologist

Introduction: An understanding of the level of activation for self-management, defined as patients’ knowledge, skills and self-efficacy regarding self-management is important. It gives clues how self-management may be improved in the individual patient. In this study, the level of activation for self-management was assessed in patients with asthma or COPD at the time of referral by their General Practitioner to a pulmonologist. Method: Between September 2014-December 2016, the integrated health status was determined in patients with asthma or COPD referred to a pulmonologist using a specifically developed diagnostic pathway. Part of this diagnostic pathway is to examine the level of activation for self-management using the 13-item Patient Activation Measurement (PAM-13). The PAM-13 measures patients’ activation for self-management. Four different levels of activation can be distinguished, from very low (PAM-1) to high (PAM-4). Results: 112 valid PAMs were obtained in patients with asthma and 90 in patients with COPD. The distribution of PAM scores in asthma patients was: 35% of the PAM-1, 21% PAM-2, 38% PAM-3 and 5% PAM-4. In COPD patients the distribution was: 30% PAM-1, 28% PAM-2, 36% PAM-3 and 7% PAM-4. Conclusion: In 56% of the asthma patients and in 58% of the COPD patients there is little or no degree of activation for self-management (PAM-1 and PAM-2) at the time of referral from primary to secondary care.