A Survey of Community Nurses' Knowledge and Strategies Used to Relieve Breathlessness in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Abstract

Little is known about community nurses' knowledge of breathlessness and its management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To explore the community registered nurses' knowledge of COPD and the strategies that they use to manage breathlessness in people with COPD. A cross-sectional survey study of community registered nurses was conducted using the 65-item Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire and an open-ended item to outline breathlessness strategies. A total of 59 nurses participated. The total mean Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire Score was 43. The breathlessness category was the lowest scoring category. There were three themes that synthesised: the community nurse's role in monitoring self-management of medications to relieve breathlessness; the use of non-pharmacological strategies to relieve breathlessness; the nursing skills used to monitor breathlessness in people with COPD.