Abstract
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be debilitating conditions adversely affecting a person's quality of life. Effective treatments are available, but common errors in the use of inhalers compound the issue of disease control. The beliefs and concerns of a patient can also have an impact on treatment adherence, the consequences of which are diminished disease control and the occurrence of exacerbations. Once a treatment has been prescribed, it is often nurses who manage the patient long-term, and they may even be the main care provider. This puts nurses in a key position to monitor inhaler technique, communicate with the patient to improve adherence, and even suggest alternative treatments if the patient and therapy are incompatible. This review examines the central role that nurses play in disease management and emphasizes how effective inhaler education can make a difference to disease control. Good communication between the nurse and patient is vital if this is to be achieved. Recent updates to asthma and COPD guidelines are reviewed, and key resources available to help manage patients are highlighted. Finally, with regard to inhaler education, we reconsider the nursing keystones of “Know it,” “Show it,” “Teach it,” and “Review it.”
Highlights
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain chronic respiratory diseases, with substantial global burden despite currently available treatments and management guidelines [1, 2]
In 2015 alone, it was estimated that over 3 million people worldwide died from COPD [4]. e availability of effective treatments means that much of this burden is avoidable, and education is pivotal to the implementation of successful intervention strategies [4]
Nurses play significant roles in most aspects of COPD management, including diagnosis, review and tracking of disease progression and treatment success, and instruction on treatment modification where required [10]. e National Asthma Education Prevention Plan (NAEPP) guidelines advocate that healthcare providers, including nurses, build a strong relationship with their patients through effective communication, answering questions, and supporting effective disease management [9, 11]. ese partnerships place nurses in a key position to recognize poor disease control and to provide enhanced care or specialist referral for highrisk patients [9, 11]. Another major aspect of an effective nurse-patient partnership is the opportunity for nurses to Canadian Respiratory Journal deliver patient education, a crucial part of which is inhaler technique [9, 11]. is review will examine, from the nurse practitioners’ perspective, the central role that nurses play in the management of asthma and COPD and the essential interventions they can provide to improve patient outcomes, with a particular focus on inhaler education
Summary
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain chronic respiratory diseases, with substantial global burden despite currently available treatments and management guidelines [1, 2]. Ese partnerships place nurses in a key position to recognize poor disease control and to provide enhanced care or specialist referral for highrisk patients [9, 11]. Another major aspect of an effective nurse-patient partnership is the opportunity for nurses to Canadian Respiratory Journal deliver patient education, a crucial part of which is inhaler technique [9, 11]. Is review will examine, from the nurse practitioners’ perspective, the central role that nurses play in the management of asthma and COPD and the essential interventions they can provide to improve patient outcomes, with a particular focus on inhaler education Another major aspect of an effective nurse-patient partnership is the opportunity for nurses to Canadian Respiratory Journal deliver patient education, a crucial part of which is inhaler technique [9, 11]. is review will examine, from the nurse practitioners’ perspective, the central role that nurses play in the management of asthma and COPD and the essential interventions they can provide to improve patient outcomes, with a particular focus on inhaler education
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