RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A description of the management of patients with COPD in the primary care setting of Antwerp
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA3949
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA3949
VO 48
IS suppl 60
A1 Glenn Leemans
A1 Lisa Billion
A1 Laura Timmerman
A1 Charlotte Adriaensen
A1 Benjamin Block
A1 Kris Ides
A1 Dirk Vissers
A1 Wilfried De Backer
A1 Paul Van Royen
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA3949.abstract
AB Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) plays an important role in the chronic disease management of patient with COPD. Research shows that in primary care such multidisciplinary integrated programs has a positive effect on quality of life. However, the implementation of such integrated care pathways are dependent of the particular health care system. The goal of this qualitative research is to describe the usual care and current treatment of COPD patients in primary healthcare with a focus on PR, communication and collaboration among different healthcare workers.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were performed according to to a pre-established script with a purposeful sample of 30 general practitioners whose office is located in the province Antwerp. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed following the principles of thematic analysis.Results: Assessment of the patients is primarily based on symptoms and functional status in their daily live with focus on quality of live. Although their well educated in spirometry, the GP not manage to perform these test due to organisational problems. Treatment is mainly focussed on pharmacotherapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation is hardly mentioned by the GP and not applied in their management. Interproffesional communication is limited to GP-pneumologist (re)-referral.Conclusion: The management and treatment of COPD in primary care is mainly based on the functional status of the patient and pharmacological treatment according to evidence based guidelines. Integrated care including non-pharmacological management is not well implemented because of obstacles in interprofessional collaboration and practice management.