Participants chose the healthcare behaviors that best suitedthem. The most common expectations of these behaviorswere that they help prevent the emergence or exacerbationof lung disease symptoms and they facilitate the maintenance of stable physical functions. Five themes of healthcare behaviors were identified: symptom management,exercise implementation, environmental control, emotionaladjustment, and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle (see Chenet al. [2008] for a detailed discussion of these behaviors).Patients with COPD use a variety of behaviors to managetheir disease and to prevent and alleviate symptoms as wellas to maintain quality of life. Participants at all levels ofdisease severity engaged in behaviors related to all of thefive themes of self-management behavior (Chen et al.,2008, p. 603). This study further identified the utilizationof community and healthcare resources as a distinct themeof healthcare behavior. Participants used these resources tomaintain the stability of their condition.