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Objective To determine whether supported self management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can reduce hospital readmissions in the United Kingdom.

Design Randomised controlled trial.

Setting Community based intervention in the west of Scotland.

Participants Patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbation of COPD.

Intervention Participants in the intervention group were trained to detect and treat exacerbations promptly, with ongoing support for 12 months.

Main outcome measures The primary outcome was hospital readmissions and deaths due to COPD assessed by record linkage of Scottish Morbidity Records; health related quality of life measures were secondary outcomes.

Results 464 patients were randomised, stratified by age, sex, per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, recent pulmonary rehabilitation attendance, smoking status, deprivation category of area of …