COPD: The Physician and Patient Conversation

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Haymarket Medical Education

30 minutes

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Effective communication is essential to fostering collaborative care among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients need to know which medicines to take on a daily basis and when and why to take them; how to control COPD long term; how to recognize exacerbation symptoms; when and how to use oxygen therapy and physical therapy; the importance of medication adherence; when to call a doctor or go to the emergency room; and how to manage comorbidities. A written action plan is key, including one for patients discharged from the hospital after being admitted for an acute exacerbation. Further, any COPD patient given inhaled therapy should receive a demonstration of inhaler use, with refresher demonstrations and counseling at every subsequent visit. Referral to pulmonary rehabilitation should be followed up with regular encouragement for participation. In every interaction, clinicians must reinforce the need for self-management—medication adherence, proper medication use, regular attendance at rehabilitation and exercise training sessions, avoidance of smoking, and prompt reporting of any changes in symptom patterns or function.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing the activity, the participant should be better able to:Implement strategies for early recognition and management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and for prevention as well as management of acute exacerbationsReview and synthesize expert guidelines for COPD assessment and management, so as to optimally choose from the many treatment agents availableDevelop strategies for coordinating COPD care across multiple disciplines and care settings to help improve access to supportive services, enhance the level of care for COPD and comorbidities, and reduce hospital readmissionsEstablish specific protocols for educating COPD patients about their disease, associated risk factors, treatment options, adherence to treatment regimens, and overall goals of therapy