Successful patient self-management of COPD requires hands-on guidance

Predictors of patient adherence to COPD self-management exacerbation action plans

OBJECTIVE

Identifying patient characteristics predicting categories of patient adherence to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation action plans.

METHODS

Data were obtained from self-treatment intervention groups of two COPD self-management trials. Patients with ≥1 exacerbation and/or ≥1 self-initiated prednisolone course during one-year follow-up were included. Optimal treatment was defined as 'self-initiating prednisolone treatment ≤2 days from the onset of a COPD exacerbation'. Predictors of adherence categories were identified by multinomial logistic regression analysis using patient characteristics.

RESULTS

145 COPD patients were included and allocated to four adherence categories: 'optimal treatment' (26.2 %), 'sub optimal treatment' (11.7 %), 'significant delay or no treatment' (31.7 %), or 'treatment outside the actual exacerbation period' (30.3 %). One unit increase in baseline dyspnoea score (mMRC scale 0-4) increased the risk of 'significant delay or no treatment' (OR 1.64 (95 % CI 1.07-2.50)). Cardiac comorbidity showed a borderline significant increased risk of 'treatment outside the actual exacerbation period' (OR 2.40 (95 % CI 0.98-5.85)).

CONCLUSION

More severe dyspnoea and cardiac comorbidity may lower adherence to COPD exacerbation action plans.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Tailored self-management support with more focus on dyspnoea and cardiac disease symptoms may help patients to better act upon increased exacerbation symptoms and improve adherence to COPD exacerbation action plans.

Activating primary care COPD patients with multi-morbidity through tailored self-management support

Given the dearth of COPD self-management interventions that specifically acknowledge multi-morbidity in primary care, we aimed to activate COPD patients through personalised self-management support that recognised the implications of co-morbidities. This single-group experimental study included patients aged 40−84 with a spirometry diagnosis of COPD and at least one co-morbidity. A self-management education programme for COPD in the context of multi-morbidity, based on the Health Belief Model, was tailored and delivered to participants by general practice nurses in face-to-face sessions. At 6 months’ follow-up, there was significant improvement in patient activation (p < 0.001), COPD-related quality of life (p = 0.012), COPD knowledge (p < 0.001) and inhaler device technique (p = 0.001), with no significant change in perception of multi-morbidity (p = 0.822) or COPD-related multi-morbidity (0.084). The programme improved patients’ self-efficacy for their COPD as well as overall health behaviour. The findings form an empirical basis for further testing the programme in a large-scale randomised controlled trial.

Intrinsic factors influence self-management participation in COPD: effects on self-efficacy

Personal traits should be addressed before offering self-management programmes to patients with COPD http://ow.ly/DtNh30k1A15.

Perceptions of Persons With Type 2 Diabetes Treated in Swedish Primary Health Care: Qualitative Study on Using eHealth Services for Self-Management Support

Background

Digital health services are increasing rapidly worldwide. Strategies to involve patients in self-monitoring of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on a daily basis is of crucial importance, and there is a need to optimize the delivery of care such as self-management support. Digitalized solutions have the potential to modify and personalize the way in which people use primary health services, both by increasing access to information and providing other forms of support at a distance. It is a challenge to integrate core values of person-centered care into digitalized health care services.

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe perceptions of using electronic health (eHealth) services and related technologies for self-management support among people with T2D treated in Swedish primary health care.

Methods

This is a qualitative study based on interviews analyzed using qualitative content analysis conducted among people diagnosed with T2D.

Results

Findings suggest that the participants had mixed feelings regarding the use of digital health services for self-management support. They experienced potentials such as increased involvement, empowerment, and security, as well as concerns such as ambivalence and uncertainty.

Conclusions

Digital health services for self-management are easily accessible and have the potential to reach a wide population. However, targeted training to increase digital skills is required, and personalized devices must be adapted and become more person-centered to improve patients’ involvement in their own care.

Effectiveness of case management in the prevention of COPD re-admissions: a pilot study

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are associated with high disease burden and costs, especially in the case of hospitalizations. The overall number of hospital admissions due to exacerbations of COPD has increased. It is remarkable that re-admissions account for a substantial part of these hospitalizations. This pilot study investigates the use of case management to reduce re-admissions due to COPD.

Methods

COPD patients with more than one hospitalization per year due to an exacerbation were included. The participants (n = 10) were closely monitored and intensively coached for 20 weeks after hospitalization. The case manager provided care in a person-focused manner. The case manager informed and supported the patient, took action when relapse threatened, coordinated and connected primary and secondary care. Data of 12 months before and after start of the intervention were compared. Primary outcome was the difference in number of hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (measured by the Clinical COPD Questionnaire, CCQ) and dyspnoea (measured by the MRC Dyspnoea Scale).

Results

The incidence rate of hospitalizations was found to be 2.25 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–3.9; P = 0.004) 12 months before compared with 12 months after the start of case management. COPD patients had a mean CCQ score of 3.3 (95% CI 2.8–3.8) before and 2.4 (95% CI 1.9–2.8) after 20 weeks of case management; a difference of 1.0 (95% CI 0.4–1.6; P = 0.001). The mean MRC scores showed no significant differences before (4.3; 95% CI 3.7–4.9) and after the case management period (3.9; 95% CI 3.2–4.6); a difference of 0.4 (95% CI − 0.1 to 0.9; P = 0.114).

Conclusions

This pilot study shows that the number of COPD hospital re-admissions decreased significantly after the introduction of a case manager. Moreover, there was an improvement in patient-reported health-related quality of life.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-2946-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nursing clinical practice changes to improve self-management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIM

To propose nursing clinical practice changes to improve the development of patient self-management.

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main causes of chronic morbidity, loss of quality of life and high mortality rates.

INTRODUCTION

Control of the disease's progression, the preservation of autonomy in self-care and maintenance of quality of life are extremely challenging for patients to execute in their daily living. However, there is still little evidence to support nursing clinical practice changes to improve the development of self-management.

METHODS

A participatory action research study was performed in a medicine inpatient department and the outpatient unit of a Portuguese hospital. The sample comprised 52 nurses and 99 patients. For data collection, we used interviews, participant observation and content analysis.

RESULTS

The main elements of nursing clinical practice that were identified as a focus for improvement measures were the healthcare model, the organization of healthcare and the documentation of a support decision-making process. The specific guidelines, the provision of material to support decision-making and the optimization of information sharing between professionals positively influenced the change process. This change improved the development of self-management skills related to the awareness of the need for 'change', hope, involvement, knowledge and abilities.

DISCUSSION

The implemented changes have improved health-related behaviours and clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

To support self-management development skills, an effective nursing clinical practice change is needed. This study has demonstrated the relevance of a portfolio of techniques and tools to help patients adopt healthy behaviours.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND/OR HEALTH POLICY

The involvement and participation of nurses and patients in the conceptualization, implementation and evaluation of policy change are fundamental issues to improve the quality of nursing care and clinical outcomes.

An eHealth Platform to Manage Chronic Disease in Primary Care: An Innovative Approach

The number of individuals with chronic illness and multimorbidity is growing due to the rapid ageing of the population and the greater longevity of individuals. This causes an increasing workload in care, which results in a growing need for structural changes of the health care system. In recent years this led to a strong focus on promoting "self-management" in chronically ill patients. Research showed that patients who understand more about their disease, health, and lifestyle have better experiences and health outcomes, and often use less health care resources; the effect is even more when these patients are empowered to and responsible for managing their health and disease. In addition to the skills of patients, health care professionals need to shift to a role of teacher, partner, and professional supervisor of their patients. One way of supervising patients is by the use of electronic health (eHealth), which helps patients manage and control their disease. The application of eHealth solutions can provide chronically ill patients high-quality care, to the satisfaction of both patients and health care professionals, alongside a reduction in health care consumption and costs.

Coordination of care for patients with COPD: Clinical points of interest

The management of care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease improved over the last years but is still very complex. Both over- and underdiagnosis are often reported and misclassification of disease severity is common. Differentiating between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome remains difficult. Much is known about the effectiveness of treatment approaches in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but patients are often not treated according to the guidelines, and we need more evidence on effectiveness in phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Care coordination is of great importance and can help to further improve care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation and self-management are considered important aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care. In our opinion, there is a major role for eHealth to improve coordination of care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Feasibility and effectiveness of an asthma/COPD service for primary care: a cross-sectional baseline description and longitudinal results

BACKGROUND

In 2007, an Asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (AC) service was implemented in the North of the Netherlands to support General Practitioners (GPs) by providing advice from pulmonologists on a systematic basis.

AIMS

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this service on patient-related outcomes.

METHODS

We report baseline data on 11,401 patients and follow-up data from 2,556 patients. GPs can refer all patients with possible obstructive airway disease (OAD) to the service, which is conducted by the local laboratory. Patients are assessed in the laboratory using questionnaires and spirometry. Pulmonologists inspect the data through the internet and send the GP diagnosis and management advice.

RESULTS

A total of 11,401 patients were assessed by the service, covering almost 60% of all adult patients with projected asthma or COPD in the area. In all, 46% (n = 5,268) of the patients were diagnosed with asthma, 18% (n = 2,019) with COPD and 7% (n = 788) with the overlap syndrome. A total of 740 (7%) patients were followed up after 3 months because the GP advised them to change medication. In this group, the proportion of unstable COPD patients (Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) ⩾ 1) decreased from 63% (n = 92) at baseline to 49% (n = 72). The proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) ⩾ 1.5) decreased from 41% (n = 204) to 23% (n = 115). In all, 938 (8%) patients were followed up after 12 months. From these patients, the proportion of unstable COPD patients (CCQ ⩾ 1) decreased from 47% (n = 115) to 44% (n = 107). The proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma (ACQ⩾1.5) decreased from 16% (n = 95) to 14% (n = 85).

CONCLUSION

The AC service assessed a considerable proportion of patients with OAD in the area, improved patients' outcomes, and is considered to be feasible and effective.

Using Action Research and Peer Perspectives to Develop Technology That Facilitates Behavioral Change and Self-Management in COPD

Background. Behavioural change and self-management in patients with chronic illness may help to control symptoms, avoid rehospitalization, enhance quality of life, and decrease mortality and morbidity. Objective. Guided by action research principles and using mixed methods, the aim of this project was to develop peer based educational, motivational, and health-promoting peer based videos, using behavioural change principles, to support self-management in patients with COPD. Methods. Individuals (n = 32) living with COPD at home and involved in two community based COPD support groups were invited to participate in this project. Focus group/individual interviews and a demographic questionnaire were used to collect data. Results. Analysis revealed 6 categories relevant to behavioural change which included self-management, support, symptoms, knowledge, rehabilitation, and technology. Participants commented that content needed to be specific, and videos needed to be shorter, to be tailored to severity of condition, to demonstrate “normal” activities, to be positive, and to ensure that content is culturally relevant. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that detailed analysis of patient perspectives and needs for self-management is essential and should underpin the development of any framework, materials, and technology. The action research design principles provided an effective framework for eliciting the data and applying it to technology and testing its relevance to the user.