M4 Association of descriptors of breathlessness with diagnosis, self-reported severity of breathlessness and self-reported distress due to breathlessness in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cancer: Abstract M4 Table 1

When to refer patients with advanced COPD to palliative care services

COPD is a significant health issue around the world. It is ultimately a fatal disease. Patients are under-referred to palliative care. Palliative care can improve breathlessness and provide other psychosocial interventions that can improve quality of life. https://bit.ly/2VQ8FrR.

Inspiring change: humanities and social science insights into the experience and management of breathlessness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Breathlessness can be debilitating for those with chronic conditions, requiring continual management. Yet, the meaning of breathlessness for those who live with it is poorly understood in respect of its subjective, cultural, and experiential significance. This article discusses a number of current issues in understanding the experience of breathlessness.

RECENT FINDINGS

Effective communication concerning the experience of breathlessness is crucial for diagnosis, to identify appropriate treatment, and to provide patients with the capacity to self-manage their condition. However, there is an evident disconnect between the way breathlessness is understood between clinical and lay perspectives, in terms of awareness of breathlessness, the way symptoms are expressed, and acknowledgement of how it affects the daily lives of patients.

SUMMARY

The review highlights the need for integrated multidisciplinary work on breathlessness, and suggests that effective understanding and management of breathlessness considers its wider subjective and social significance.