Health Education to Reduce Exacerbation Precipitating Factors in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a high risk of acute exacerbations if they have insufficient knowledge about the disease and do not properly use inhaling bronchodilators. When an exacerbation occurs, patients experience increased shortness of breath, a cough with increased amounts of thick, purulent sputum, and symptoms do not improve within less than 14 days. This can lead to hospitalization due to the risk of respiratory failure and even death. Helping patients maintain stable conditions, enabling them to manage their disease correctly, and reducing the healthcare burden are crucial roles for nurses.

This article reviews knowledge about COPD and factors triggering acute exacerbations to provide nurses with guidelines for specifically educating COPD patients and their caregivers. Malnutrition, cigarette smoking, air pollution, cold air, inaccurate or underestimated perceptions of the severity of the illness, respiratory infections, decreased physical activity, and incorrect administration of inhaling bronchodilators are triggers for COPD exacerbations.