Objective To explore the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation self-management intervention based on the Behavioral Change Wheel (BCW) theory on the exercise tolerance, self-efficacy, and quality of life of patients with stable COPD.Methods A total of 104 patients with stable COPD from January to July 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n=52) and an observation group (n=52).The control group received routine pulmonary rehabilitation guidance and regular follow-up, while the observation group was subjected to a pulmonary rehabilitation self-management programme guided by the BCW theory and it also underwent multi-stage interventions, including motivation stimulation, ability stratification, family coordination, and digital dynamic support.The intervention period lasted for 2 months, and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), the COPD Self-Management Scale, and the St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were compared before and after the intervention between the two groups.Results A total of 50 cases in each group completed the study. After the intervention, the 6MWD, self-efficacy, self-management ability, and SGRQ scores of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion The pulmonary rehabilitation self-management intervention based on the BCW theory can effectively improve the exercise tolerance, self-efficacy, and self-management ability of patients with stable COPD, and improve respiratory symptoms and quality of life, providing a systematic and dynamic intervention pathway for clinical practice.