The Effect of a Smartphone Application Self-management Programme on Clinical Health Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has a significant impact on one's quality and quantity of life resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. In Ireland, COPD has the highest hospital admissions in comparison to other countries within the organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD). There is a need to improve knowledge and self-management behaviour in order to improve recognition of early signs of an exacerbation thereby seeking early treatment from the general practitioner (GP) thus reducing hospital admissions among this cohort . There are limited studies pertaining to the use of a comprehensive self-management programme via a smartphone app for people with COPD on a longitudinal basis.The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a smartphone application self-management programme on clinical health outcomes in patients with COPD.