Strides and challenges
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Strides and challenges: a reality check on efforts to educate and empower COPD patients
COPD is a global health problem, and that other nations likely face similar, but also unique, challenges in patient engagement as well as in the delivery of medical care. A paper published in March 20181 in Respiratory Care details insights that help shed light on the industry’s efforts to educate and inform COPD patients. Interestingly, patients may be a bit over ambitious in terms of estimating just how well-informed they truly are about their condition. The team of physicians authoring the paper ultimately suggests a focus on robust and sustained education and support for COPD patients. The paper is informed by surveying 240+ US patients, aged 40 and older, who have been diagnosed with COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.
Knowledge is power
The survey1 suggests a gap between what patients claim to know about COPD and what they actually may know. Most surveyed claim to understand the disease and available treatments, but less than half indicated they understood what causes COPD and the typical symptoms.
only
45%
knew the typical symptoms
only
44%
claimed to know the cause of COPD
only
35%
were knowledgeable about medications used to treat and manage exacerbations
only
27%
were aware of the importance of preventing their COPD symptoms (COPD exacerbations)
However, the study does suggest that some educational efforts may have worked. Many subjects claimed that they understand the risk factors associated with COPD.
only
93%
cited cigarette smoking as major risk
only
77%
cited secondhand smoke
only
74%
recognized environmental exposure at work
only
72%
identified indoor air pollution
Office visits
While most subjects are informed about the risks of COPD, the study suggests a need for more robust patient education during office visits with a care professional. Less than half recalled discussing smoking cessation and treatment options during an initial visit. Only 43% recalled COPD management and prevention of risk as being discussed. In terms of therapy, 47% recalled being trained on how to use an inhalation device, with few recalling any discussions around how to clean them. A mere 7% of subjects stated that proper use of their treatment device was a topic of discussion in more than half of the visits with their physicians. Additionally, 9% stated that such a discussion occurred at each visit. In general, many did not feel that their initial appointment was long enough to cover all the ground it needed to. 25% felt there was not enough time during the visit to cover all of their questions. Although patient recall may be a factor, the authors suggest more information sharing may be needed during visits.
Events
Philips attends the American Thoracic Society Conference 2018
May 19-24 in San Diego A recap of the event will be made available in an upcoming newsletter issue. Poster sessions:
Takeaways
Philips recently sponsored a symposium conducted by touchRespiratory at the JVID conference in Lyon, France: New Non-invasive COPD Screening of EFL Within Home Therapy Explore clinical insights around expiratory flow limitation. View video interviews of leading respiratory experts made possible by a grant from Philips.
Whom do patients rely on?
Patients rely on their care provides – when it comes to therapy. The survey suggests that most believe that health care professionals are responsible for assessing and training them on the proper use of inhalation devices.
32%
believed physicians are mainly responsible for assessing proper technique
26%
believed nurses bear the primary responsible
7%
believed pharmacists were responsible
28%
believed that no single provider was responsible for assessing technique and training on inhalation devices
What do patients rely on?
Therapy devices is considered essential to successful COPD management. 54% of patients had used small-volume nebulizer (SVN). Of those who used it, the device scored highly in terms of key preference metrics:
Perhaps of little surprise then, SVN’s were preferred by 54% over other devices by patients who had used them. Additionally, In terms of overall device therapy effectiveness, the authors suggest that less than optimal patient–physician interactions during office visits also contribute to inhaler misuse or poor adherence.
Who am I?
The survey captures common attributes of the COPD patients which tended to mirror the overall population in the United States:
Learn more about the state of COPD patient education.
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1 About the survey: A multiple-choice online survey, developed by a steering committee of American Thoracic Society clinicians and scientists. Article published in RESPIRATORY CARE Paper in Press. Published on March 20,
