Effects of the health belief model following acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a hospital in China

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating and preventable chronic lung disease characterized by alveolar destruction, lung inflammation and airflow limitation (1). Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) have a high incidence of developing anxiety and fatigue (2). It was hypothesized that anxiety and fatigue may be risk factors for developing AECOPD and lower the effectiveness of the present therapeutic approach. Therefore, it would be a useful approach for preventing AECOPD to reduce the anxiety and fatigue of patients with COPD