Self-treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requires more than symptom recognition – a qualitative study of COPD patients’ perspectives on self-treatment

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• 作者：Johanna Laue ; Hasse Melbye ; Mette Bech Risør
• 关键词：COPD ; Exacerbations ; Self ; treatment ; Patient perspective ; Primary care
• 刊名：BMC Family Practice
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：December 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：18
• 期：1
• 全文大小：531KB
• 刊物主题：General Practice / Family Medicine; Primary Care Medicine;
• 出版者：BioMed Central
• ISSN：1471-2296
• 卷排序：18

文摘

BackgroundSelf-treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce hospitalization rates, mortality and health costs. However, for reasons little understood, the effect of self-treatment, particularly when not part of comprehensive self-management programs, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to get insight into the patients’ perspective on self-treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD, focusing specifically on how patients decide for the right moment to start treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids, what they consider important when making this decision and aspects which might interfere with successful implementation.