Strategies used by respiratory nurses to stimulate self-management in patients with COPD.

AIMS AND
OBJECTIVES: To gain an insight into strategies, adopted by Dutch respiratory nurses during clinic sessions, to improve self-management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is highly prevalent and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, impacting on quality of life and healthcare expenditure. Health promotion is therefore an important consideration. By applying specific strategies, respiratory nurses can play a major role in the promotion of self-management. Research has shown that respiratory nurses, who run clinics, have insufficient knowledge of evidence-based strategies that can be adopted to promote self-management among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. It appears that respiratory nurses adopt their own strategies during clinic sessions.
DESIGN: A qualitative research study was carried out using Grounded Theory method.
METHODS: Data were collected during open interviews conducted by an external researcher with a nursing background. The interviews were analysed through coding after which categories were developed.
RESULTS: Fourteen respiratory nurses were interviewed. The results show that respiratory nurses emphasise quitting smoking during the consult. Attention is also paid to inhalation medication and techniques. Other self-management strategies that respiratory nurses use are: application of specific interviewing techniques, referring to other healthcare professionals and providing tools for coping with the illness in everyday life. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The main emphasis during the clinic session is directed at quitting smoking. Other self-management strategies such as providing information regarding nutrition and exercise, instilling confidence and becoming an equal discussion partner, gain less attention. During the clinic session, respiratory nurses should also focus on these self-management strategies in addition to quitting smoking. Further research should be directed at self-management strategies used by respiratory nurses in relation to different characteristics of patients. In this way, a more patient-oriented form of consultation could be developed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.