Non-Pharmacological Breathlessness Action Plans for People with COPD and Their Support People: A Scoping Review and Survey of Current Practice - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #self-management
- #COPD
- #breathlessness
- The study focuses on non-pharmacological breathlessness action plans for COPD patients and their support people.
- A scoping review and survey identified 69 plans, with common strategies including breathing techniques (88%), positioning (78%), and airflow (65%).
- Plans scored an average of 64% for understandability and 68% for actionability, with a median reading grade of 8.2.
- Limited efficacy support was found, with only one pre/post study and qualitative data from two feasibility trials.
- 67% of plan-users reported avoiding ambulance calls, and 93% of clinicians noted increased patient confidence/reduced anxiety.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the plans' effects on self-management, breathlessness outcomes, and healthcare usage.