PURPOSE
This study was conducted to develop and test an explanatory model on functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using path analysis. METHODS: Data were collected from 149 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using 6-minute walk test, measurement of oxygen saturation, pulmonary function test, and self-reported questionnaires from June to October, 2005. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program and AMOS/WIN 4.0 program. RESULTS: The overall fitness indices of modified model were good( chi-square = 14.324, p = .281 GFI = .981, RMSEA = .006, AGFI = .944, NFI = .927, NNFI = .999, CFI = .999, PNFI = .613, chi-square /df = 1.194). Functional capacity was influenced directly by age(beta = -.304, p = .000), dyspnea(beta = -.278, p = .000), self-efficacy(beta = .240, p = .000), social support(beta = .175, p = .004), pulmonary function(beta = .169, p = .008), and oxygen saturation(beta = .099, p = .048). These variables explained 39.3% in functional capacity. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that comprehensive nursing interventions should focus on decreasing dyspnea and increasing self-efficacy, social support, and oxygen saturation. In this perspective, pulmonary rehabilitation would be an effective strategy for improving functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to define the relationship among self-care, symptom experiences, and health-related quality of life(HRQoL) according to the severity of disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients.
METHODS
The participants, 195 COPD patients, were recruited at a pulmonology clinic of a universityaffiliated medical center in B metropolitan city. Inclusion criteria were patients who were diagnosed as COPD and had less than 0.7 of FEV1/FVC(Forced Expiratory Volume for 1 second/Forced Vital Capacity) ratio. The severity was classified with GOLD(Global initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) stages, FEV1% predicted value from mild to very severe. The data were gathered by the medical records and self-reported questionnaires.
RESULTS
The self-care, symptom experience, and HRQoL were all significantly different by COPD severity based on pulmonary function(p<.05). There were significant moderate negative relationships between symptom experiences and self-care(r=-.54, p<.001) and between symptom experiences and HRQoL(r=-.64, p<.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between self-care and HRQoL(r=.63, p<.001).
CONCLUSION
It suggests that the assessment of disease severity based on pulmonary function and subjective symptom experience in patients with COPD may be a key component to develop a tailored self-management program and to improve their quality of life.

The purpose of the study was to investigate two areas as a basis for providing an educational program for pulmonary rehabilitation. A) the learning needs about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and B) the perception of nurses of the same learning needs. The subjects consisted of 57 patients, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, at the general hospital in Seoul and 71 nurses, who were working in the medical ward. Data was obtained from a "learning need" questionnaire between October 29 and November 19, '99. Data was analyzed using SAS program for t-test, ANOVA, Scheff test. The result were as follows: 1. The learning needs of the nurses(mean 4.36 +/- .38) were higher than those of the patients (mean 3.56 +/- .83). (t=6.78, P=.001) 2. The highest ranked patient education needs were as follows ; a)"how to control dyspnea", b)"cause for activating dyspnea", and c)"how to minimize the necessity of oxygen in daily living": and nurses' learning needs were ; a)"how to cope with the risk situation", b)"management after discharge", and c)"how to control dyspnea". 3. In the patient group, those who had a college degree or higher education and paid their own hospital expenses were higher in the learning needs. According to the above results, we should consider an educational program which is realistic and effective for patients by evaluating the items the patients really want to learn about and how much they know about the evaluated items.