COPD Patient: A Case Study

Summary of the Practice Issue
Poorly managed COPD increases the patients’ risk of a faster progression of the disease and decreased activity tolerance to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), such as walking, preparing meals, performing self-care, and obtaining medications from the pharmacy when needed (American Lung Association, 2016). Further, lack or patient knowledge concerning avoidance of environmental risk factors, proper medication administration, and the importance of joining a smoking cessation program contributes to the worsening of the symptoms, a decline in quality of life, and increases their risk of complications, such as COPD exacerbations (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [NHLBI], 2013). Consequently, COPD exacerbations and the need of acute care management increase the patients’ risk of death and it is a major cause of disability among COPD patients (Burt & Corbridge, 2013). In clinical practice, patient education is an issue in need of change as increasing patients’ knowledge and awareness of specific evidence-based strategies to slow down the progress of the
Additionally, hospitalization for inpatient management of COPD exacerbations is an independent risk factor for death resulting from COPD (Burt & Corbridge, 2013). Thus, reducing the incidence of COPD exacerbations could decrease the estimated 124,000 annual deaths associated with complications from COPD (Corbridge, Wilken, Kapella, & Gronkiewicz, 2012). Lastly, another outcome derived from this evidence-based project could be a decrease of the expenditure associated with inpatient hospital treatment and ED visits incurred by COPD patients, which is estimated to be approximately $16.2 billion annually (Corbridge et al.,