Objective To explore the application effect of pulmonary rehabilitation exercise health education program based on contemplation-action-maintenance (CAM) theory in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods A total of 90 COPD patients were selected as the study subjects and randomly divided into control group (n=45) and intervention group (n=45). A total of 5 patients were excluded, with 42 cases finally included in the intervention group and 43 cases in the control group. The control group received routine exercise health education, while the intervention group received pulmonary rehabilitation exercise health education based on the CAM theory. The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3), Benefit Finding Scale (BFS), exercise adherence scale scores and exercise tolerance6-minute walk test (6MWT)were compared between the two groups.

Results At discharge, the RHDS score of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). At discharge and at 1 month as well as 3 months after discharge, the BREQ-3 and BFS scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). At 1 month and 3 months after discharge, the exercise adherence scale scores and 6MWT distances of the intervention group were higher or longer than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).

Conclusion The pulmonary rehabilitation exercise health education program based on CAM theory can improve the discharge readiness and exercise motivation of COPD patients, enhance their awareness of disease benefit and exercise compliance, and improve the exercise endurance of patients.