Conceptualisations of COPD self-management: A narrative review of the research literature

Abstract

Aim

To examine how self-management is conceptualised in the research literature on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

A narrative review was undertaken to search the research literature on COPD self-management. Ten databases (2000–2021) were searched for published texts. Sixty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. A thematic analysis was conducted of the literature.

Results

Three conceptualisations of COPD self-management were identified: 1) a dominant medicocentric conceptualisation which represented self-management as medical in focus; 2) a less dominant experiential conceptualisation that viewed it as arising from the experiences of people living with COPD; and 3) a smaller body of literature that attempted to integrate medicocentric and experiential conceptualisations of self-management.

Discussion

The dominance of the medicocentric conceptualisation of self-management and the polarisation of medicocentric and experiential perspectives were striking. An integrated conceptualisation of self-management has the potential to unite these competing perspectives and promote collaborative relationships between individuals and professionals, so long as the underlying values informing it are made explicit. However, there is a dearth of literature on this approach and it would benefit from more attention. Methods such as Co-production and the Personal Outcomes Approach offer the potential to support an integrated perspective in clinical practice.