Does stress affect the planning of future activities in patients with COPD?

Abstract

Introduction: What are the problems which lead to reduced quality of life in patients with COPD, is it psychological factor

Objective: Aims of the study were to determine 1) What were the most common reasons that patients seek-ed for help from medical personnel, 2) Distribution of patients how were successfully informed by the nurses about COPD, 3) Distribution of patients who had panic attack in episodes breathlessness, 4) Distribution of patients who had presented fear, 5) How many COPD patients stated that basic disease affects the planning of future activities.

Methods: Data were collected from May to September 2014. The target group were all patients who treatment for COPD in the Clinic for lung disease (N = 41). It was used a form of nursing documentation. Data were collected during hospitalization. In each patient, we collected data on sex, age, symptoms of the disease states the patient, information on the disease, the impact of the disease on planning activities, fear of the worsening of the disease.

Results: 1) 71% of patients had dyspnea as the most common symptom, 17% cough, 12% expectoration (N=41), 2) 78% of patients reported that were partially informed by the nurses and 22% of patients were fully informed (N=41). 3) 78% of respondents reported that they had felt panic fear (N=32), 4) 85% of respondents claims that they have fear for possible worsening of the disease (N=35), 5) 66% of respondents believed that the disease makes it difficult to plan future activities (N=27).

Conclusion: We have demonstrated that dyspnea is rezone which patients seek-ed help from medical personnel. Guidelines for nurses for further work needs to be based on fully education of the patients about their disease.