Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: rethinking models of care

摘要: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unique among leading causes of death in western society. Prevalence, associated morbidity and attributable mortality continue to rise. The resultant cost quality life patients, families the health care system general, demands improvements prevention treatment this common ultimately debilitating condition. Traditional healthcare approaches COPD, based on biomedical model, have focused underlying pathophysiology within which patients receive episodic aimed at treating preventing acute exacerbations. In contrast, living with COPD interpret it from an individually experienced illness perspective impacted by contextual factors that influence personal meaning. psychosocial ramifications follow inexorable decline capacity independence are powerful forces shaping experience advancing COPD. dominant role impact effects require us rethink our approach more effectively address these elusive yet chronically troublesome issues.