Aim: To evaluate the effect, on symptom control, self-efficacy and chronic disease management of the mobile health application developed for patients with COPD (mCOPD).

Methods: After the development of mCOPD (mKOAH in Turkish) a randomized controlled study of 80 patients with COPD (40 trials, 40 controls) was done. The data of patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected face-to-face and the last test was collected with remote telehealth applications. In the collection of data; Patient Data Form, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) and mCOPD mobile application were used. After collecting the initial data of both groups, mCOPD was installed on the phones of the patients in the trial group. The pulse oximeter device was given to record the pulse and saturation values and they were followed for 3 months. No intervention was performed on the control group patients. The symptoms of both groups were recorded with CAT and mMRC scale every 14 days for 3 months.

Results: There was no significant difference between the pretest symptom values (mMRC, CAT), CSES and PACIC scores of the trial and control group patients (p>0.05).  A significant improvement was found in the symptoms, CSES, PACIC scores and saturation of the trial group patients compared to the control group patients after 3 months (p<0.05). The trial group had decreased health care usage compared to control group patients (p<0.05).

Conclusion: mCOPD improved the control of the symptoms, increased self-efficacy and chronic disease care in COPD patients and reduced health care use.