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Alfaro TM, Wijsenbeek MS, Powell P, Stolz D, Hurst JR, Kreuter M, Moor CC. Educational aspects of rare and orphan lung diseases. Respir Res 2021; 22:92. [PMID: 33761959 PMCID: PMC7988372 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01676-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
People with rare lung diseases often suffer the burden of delayed diagnosis, limited treatment options, and difficulties in finding expert physicians. One of the reasons for the delay in diagnosis is the limited training for healthcare practitioners on rare diseases. This review explores the main concerns and needs for education on rare lung diseases from the perspectives of both patients and professionals. Despite the increasing interest in rare lung disorders and some recent breakthrough developments on the management of several diseases, healthcare professionals, including general practitioners and hospital workers, receive little education on this topic. Nonetheless, many healthcare professionals show much interest in receiving further training, especially on diagnosis. Patients and families want easier access to high-quality education materials to help them manage their own disease. Well-educated patients are better equipped to deal with chronic diseases, but patient education can be challenging as patients' individual health issues, and diverse backgrounds can create significant barriers. Raising more awareness for rare lung diseases and further development of patient-centred international expert networks like the European Reference Network on Rare Lung Diseases (ERN-LUNG), which includes both experts and patient representatives, are essential for improving care and education on rare lung diseases. Initiatives such as the Rare Disease Day, have been successful in increasing awareness for rare conditions. The development of online tools for accessing information has had positive effects and should be further supported and extended in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago M Alfaro
- Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal. .,ERS Early Career Members Committee Representative for Assembly 12: Interstitial Lung Diseases, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Marlies S Wijsenbeek
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,European Reference Network on Rare Lung Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,ERS Secretary of Group 12.01-Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pippa Powell
- European Reference Network on Rare Lung Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,European Lung Foundation, Sheffield, UK
| | - Daiana Stolz
- Clinic of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Cell Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,ERS Immediate Past Education Council Chair, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - John R Hurst
- UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Kreuter
- European Reference Network on Rare Lung Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Centre for Interstitial and Rare Lung Diseases, Pneumology and Respiratory Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Centre for Lung Research, Heidelberg, Germany.,ERS Chair of Group 12.01-Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias, Lausanne, Switzerland.,ERS Elect Early Career Members Committee Representative for Assembly 12: Interstitial Lung Diseases, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catharina C Moor
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, University Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,ERS Elect Early Career Members Committee Representative for Assembly 12: Interstitial Lung Diseases, Lausanne, Switzerland
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