UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING COPD

Course overview

The goal of this program is to provide respiratory therapists with information about the incidence, causes and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Learning Objectives are 1.Define the condition known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and its most common causes 2.Define the role of the Respiratory Therapist in the treatment of patients with COPD 3.List at least three classes of medications for COPD 4.Discuss how patient education can benefit persons with COPD 5.Discuss current research into COPD and any new initiatives INTRODUCTION Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is another condition for which the Respiratory Therapist can be highly valuable on the disease management team. As with asthma, this is a chronic condition which persons will have to learn techniques and strategies to empower them to engage in positive self-care. In this role, the R.T. can be extremely helpful. COPD is primarily a condition which strikes adults, and in many cases is highly preventable (more in the next section). As with other conditions of modern living, COPD is very much about the environment the individual creates for themselves, but also the ways in which people are affected by the environment around them. Unfortunately, there are also genetic factors, and people with COPD in their family, are also more likely to contract the illness. As with other conditions, there are socio-economic factors in the onset of COPD, and the condition is often seen in families who live with poverty, possibly due to malnutrition and other factors, such as living near an industrial area. There are, of course, ways to diagnose and treat COPD which the R.T. should be familiar with. In particular, the R.T. plays a significantly important role in the treatment, maintenance, and education of patients with COPD. They can also serve as their advocates in specific instances, such as assisting them with accessing drug programs, just as they do with patients who have other conditions such as asthma. The R.T. becomes one of the most important people in the life of a person with COPD. As a breathing specialist, the R.T. will perform multiple roles for these patients. The CDC lists it as the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S .