PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the status of self-management in patients with COPD and its associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 154 patients with COPD (mean age, 73 years) at four hospitals in Tianjin, China. The COPD Self-Management Scale was used to describe the level of self-management, and its associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables were examined with multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS: More than half of the patients with COPD had a low (30%) or moderate (27%) level of self-management. Self-management was rated highest in management of daily life and lowest in information management. Higher physical activity, higher salary, and lower age affected self-management the most positively.

CONCLUSION: The overall burden of COPD in China is greater than that found in other countries. Healthcare professionals need to improve their understanding of the importance of self-management and specifically focus on increased physical activity targeting patients with poor literacy skills.