While pulmonary rehabilitation is well established in the therapy for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the effectiveness of isolated patient education programmes still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a COPD outpatient education programme (ATEM). In a prospective randomised design, 50 patients (38 intervention, 12 control) with mild to very severe COPD have been examined with respect to a variety of follow-up parameters. At the end of the follow-up period of 12 months, the data of 11 patients of the control group (standard therapy) and 30 patients of the intervention group (additional participation in the education programme) were analysed. At entry, the two groups showed a good comparability. Over the follow-up period only the education group showed a favourable course. The BODE index (BMI, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise capacity) showed a significant improvement of 17% for the education group, while the score for the patients of the control group was seen to deteriorate by about 39%. The advantages of the intervention group were also apparent for the markers of morbidity, namely hospitalisation and the need for antibiotics. In conclusion, participation in the education programme ATEM seems to be able to improve exercise capacity and well being, as measured with the BODE index, as well as important markers of morbidity in patients with mild to very severe COPD.