Contents of nurse-led interventions for the promotion of self-management in COPD patients: a systematic literature review

Background: Self-management enhances autonomy, quality of life and control over the disease. However, there is still little evidence focusing on contents of nurse-led interventions. Our aim is to identify the most effective contents of nurse-led interventions for the promotion of self-management in COPD patients. Method: A Systematic Literature Review based on Cochrane conceptual model registered in PROSPERO. We used the PICOT method with the main starting question: what are the contents of the most effective nurse-led interventions for the promotion of self-management? Database search was conducted before November 24, 2017, in CINAHL; MEDLINE; EMBASE and Web of Science. Results: A total of 563 records were identified with 130 repeated records. After title and abstract analysis, 394 studies were excluded. A total of 55 retrieved studies were selected for full reading. For the final qualitative synthesis, three records were included. Nurse-led interventions are effective for the promotion of quality of life, knowledge related to disease and in reducing tobacco consumption. Additionally, interventions focused on physical activity maintenance are very likely to improve dyspnoea over time. Conclusion: Studies on self-management promotion in COPD patients should carefully address the characterization of nurse-led interventions in terms of contents and approaches. An in-depth description will support the definition of more accurate nurse intervention guidelines, supporting the enhancement of the nurse’s contribution for integrated care programmes worldwide.