Mechanistic Effects of Health Coaching to Reduce COPD Hospitalizations

This pilot study will explore the benefit of Health Coaching on patients with severe symptoms of COPD.

Participants will be randomized to either 12 weeks of weekly telephone health coaching calls followed by 12 weeks of living a normal life or 12 weeks of living a normal life (in addition to 6 brief educational guides and 6 non-health related calls), followed by 12 weeks of health coaching over the phone. Questionnaires and an activity monitor worn for one week will be used at baseline, 3,6 and 12 months.

It is not possible to blind the participants or the study team as subjects will know if they are receiving a health coaching call.

Participants in this group will receive 12 weekly health coaching calls followed by 12 weeks of living a normal life.

Participants in this group will receive 6 educational guides and 6 calls to remind them to read the educational guides (over a 12 week period). The participants will then move to 12 weeks of weekly health coaching calls.

after being 12 week in the usual care arm , patient will compassionately be offered the health coaching intervention

Self Management Ability Scale-30 item questionnaire measuring ability and function. Score range is 0-100, higher score is best.

Meaning in Life MLQ- 10 item questionnaire measures engagement and valued meaning and purpose in life. Scores range from 5-35. The higher the score the more meaning and purpose a person feels in their life.

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 item questionnaire that screens for the presence of depression. Scores range from 0-27, a higher score suggests the presence of depression.

GAD-2 item questionnaire that screens for anxiety. Scores range from 0-6, a higher score suggests that anxiety may be present.

Inclusion Criteria: Men and women 40 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of COPD with shortness of breath. Exclusion: terminal illness, inability to communicate by phone