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The purpose of this study was to understand the general
condition of the physical symptoms, functional status, and
uncertainty of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD), and their relationships with personal
attributes, and explore their predictors. The sample subjects
were consisted of out-patients with COPD from a medical
center in Southern Taiwan. The constructed questionnaires
were utilized to interview the subjects, the
questionnaires contained four instruments including personal
The results showed that patients with COPD had mod-level of
physical sympto ms and mild-level impaired functional
status. The subjects also had above-mod-level sense of
uncertainty. Gender, marital status, severity of pulmonary
obstruction and oxygen therapy at home were found to be
significantly related with physical symptoms. Age,
occupation, marital status, frequency of hospitalization,
severity of pulmonary obstruction and oxygen therapy at home
had significant differences in functional status. Moreover,
Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Physical
symptoms, Functional status, Uncertainty.
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