It plays an important role in the following:
- Increasing patient’s knowledge & understanding of the disease
- Improving skills in symptom recognition, breathing & physical exercise, medication use including proper technique & environmental modification
- Important to note that adherence to inhaled medications has been associated w/ reduced risk of death & hospital admission due to COPD exacerbations
- Measures must be taken to reduce total personal exposure to tobacco smoke, occupational dusts & chemicals & air pollutants
- Improving attitude toward nutrition & exercise, smoking cessation, quality of life factors & coping skills (eg relaxation techniques, stress management)
- Improving patient responses to exacerbations
- Initiating discussions about end-of-life issues including advance directives
Smoking Cessation
- Smoking cessation is the single most effective & cost effective method to reduce the risk of developing COPD & to stop its progression
- Counseling may be employed to aid patient
- Pharmacotherapies to aid smoking cessation eg Nicotine preparations, Bupropion & Nortriptyline may be considered (See Smoking Cessation Disease Management Chart)
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