Burden, coping and resilience among caregivers for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: An integrative review

AIM

This study aims to synthesise quantitative and qualitative evidence to comprehensively examine the burden of family caregivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and to understand their coping strategies and related resilience factors.

BACKGROUND

Long-term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care causes heavy psychological and physical burden to caregivers, which is related to the coping strategies used. Resilience is a protective factor originating within the individual and has become a concept related to illness, health and care.

DESIGN

An integrative review.

METHODS

Relevant literature was comprehensively searched from China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Ovid databases from the establishment of the database till January 2023, and the quality of the selected articles was evaluated. Reporting was done according to a PRISMA checklist.

FINDINGS

The burden of family caregivers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease includes poor health, worry and fear, anticipatory loss and uncertainty, relationship tensions and disagreements, loss of identity and social isolation, lack of supportive knowledge and financial burden. Family caregivers used problem-centred coping, emotion-centred coping, avoidance coping, social support and dyadic coping with their patients to manage their burdens. The factors chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with a caregiver's resilience included a higher level of knowledge, social and familial support, a close relationship with patients, a caregiver's sense of responsibility, the patient's high self-efficacy, etc. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that caregivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients face multiple burdens, adapt through different coping styles and have different psychological consequences, while coping style and mental health status also affect the magnitude of burden.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE

The findings informed health professionals about personalised chronic obstructive pulmonary disease home care interventions to reduce caregiver burden, effectively manage illness and maintain family intimacy.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patients, families, service providers or members of the public were involved in this study.

Resilience in patients and family caregivers living with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG): a quantitative study using the brief resilience coping scale (BRCS)

BACKGROUND

Patients and family caregivers living with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) experience a heavy burden, which can impact their resiliency and quality of life. The study's purpose was to measure the resilience levels of patients and family caregivers living with CDG using the brief resilience coping scale.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study with 23 patients and 151 family caregivers living with CDG. Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize patients with CDG and family caregivers' samples. Additionally, we assessed correlations between resilience and specific variables (e.g., age, academic degree, time until diagnosis) and examined resilience differences between groups (e.g., sex, marital status, occupation, professional and social support).

RESULTS

GNE myopathy was the most prevalent CDG among patients, while in family caregivers was PMM2-CDG. Both samples showed medium levels of resilience coping scores. Individuals with GNE myopathy had significantly higher scores of resilience compared to patients with other CDG. Resilience was positively correlated with educational degree in patients with CDG. Family caregivers had marginally significant higher scores of resilience coping if they received any kind of professional support or had contact with other families or people with the same or similar disease, compared with unsupported individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the inherited difficulties of living with a life-threatening disease like CDG, patients and family caregivers showed medium resilient coping levels. Resilience scores changed significantly considering the CDG genotype, individual's academic degree and professional and social support. These exploratory findings can empower the healthcare system and private institutions by promoting the development of targeted interventions to enhance individuals` coping skills and improve the overall well-being and mental health of the CDG community.

The Experiences of Close Relatives to Women with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Stages III or IV: A Qualitative Study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV is a progressive and incurable disease. The hallmark of the disease is breathlessness, and it is graded into four different stages, from mild to severe. Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease impacts almost every aspect of everyday life for an affected person. As the illness progresses to stages III and IV, the need for support from close relatives increases. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of close relatives of women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV and it used qualitative content analysis of individual, semi-structured interviews. Close relatives (n = 9) were interviewed about their experience of being close to a woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. They experienced stress and uncertainty in an unpredictable everyday life. Close relatives supported the women both practically and emotionally and they called for tailored information about the illness, considering it as an essential tool for support. The results highlighted that healthy close relatives had difficulty in understanding the experience of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary, as they take the simple fact of breathing for granted most of the time.

Effects of a Caregiver Educational Program on Interactions between Family Caregivers and Patients with Advanced COPD

The quality of family caregiver-patient interaction plays a crucial role in the context of chronic conditions. This study investigated the effects of a caregiver educational program on interactions between family caregivers and patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this trial, 92 pairs of family caregivers and patients in a subspecialty lung care clinic located in Birjand, Iran were allocated into intervention and control groups (n = 46 per group). The intervention consisted of eight sessions, including three educational sessions on COPD, two educational sessions on coping strategies, as well as three peer support sessions. The Dyadic Relationship Scale was completed at baseline, posttest, and follow-up (2 months after intervention). For caregivers in the intervention group, positive dyadic interaction improved significantly from baseline to follow-up and from posttest to follow-up in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Also, for these caregivers, negative dyadic strain enhanced significantly from baseline to posttest and from baseline to follow-up as compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). Finally, in patients of the intervention group, negative dyadic strain from baseline to follow-up and from posttest to follow-up significantly improved when compared with that of control patients (p < 0.05).

Caregivers' experiences of contributing to patients' self-care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

AIM

To identify, analyze and synthesize qualitative studies on caregivers' experiences of contributions to the self-care of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND

COPD patients perform daily self-care behaviours to manage the disease. With aging and disease progression, patients need to rely on the contributions of informal caregivers, usually family members, for disease management. Caregivers' normal or habitual contributions to patients' self-care have not yet been completely investigated.

DESIGN

Thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Emcare and OpenGrey databases were searched from inception to September 2020. The search was restricted to English-language papers.

REVIEW METHODS

Studies were critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The initial line-by-line codes were aggregated into descriptive themes from which analytical themes were derived.

RESULTS

Fifteen papers from nine countries, published 2009-2020, were included. Six analytical themes encompassing 22 descriptive themes were identified and grouped in two overarching themes describing caregivers' experiences of contributions to patients' self-care during the stable and exacerbation phases of COPD. In the stable phases, caregivers contribute through maintaining disease stability, promoting healthy behaviours, fostering normal life and helping perform daily activities. During exacerbations, caregivers contribute through assessing, monitoring and managing symptoms in collaboration with patients or autonomously. They contribute by performing actions, motivating patients, organizing care, sensing variations in symptoms, acquiring knowledge and educating patients, making decisions, communicating and collaborating with healthcare providers and patients and advocating for patients.

CONCLUSION

This thematic synthesis enlarges knowledge of caregivers' contributions to patients' self-care in COPD, detailing the ways by which caregivers provide care to patients.

IMPACT

Contributing daily to the self-care of a family member with COPD is a complex experience. Nurses need to acknowledge the importance of caregivers' contributions to patient disease management and develop effective educational interventions to support them.

Tailored or adapted interventions for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and at least one other long-term condition: a mixed methods review

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by shortness of breath, cough and recurrent exacerbations. People with COPD often live with one or more co-existing long-term health conditions (comorbidities). People with more severe COPD often have a higher number of comorbidities, putting them at greater risk of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of any single intervention for COPD adapted or tailored to their comorbidity(s) compared to any other intervention for people with COPD and one or more common comorbidities (quantitative data, RCTs) in terms of the following outcomes: Quality of life, exacerbations, functional status, all-cause and respiratory-related hospital admissions, mortality, pain, and depression and anxiety. To assess the effectiveness of an adapted or tailored single COPD intervention (simple or complex) that is aimed at changing the management of people with COPD and one or more common comorbidities (quantitative data, RCTs) compared to usual care in terms of the following outcomes: Quality of life, exacerbations, functional status, all-cause and respiratory-related hospital admissions, mortality, pain, and depression and anxiety. To identify emerging themes that describe the views and experiences of patients, carers and healthcare professionals when receiving or providing care to manage multimorbidities (qualitative data).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched multiple databases including the Cochrane Airways Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL, to identify relevant randomised and qualitative studies. We also searched trial registries and conducted citation searches. The latest search was conducted in January 2021.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) compared a) any single intervention for COPD adapted or tailored to their comorbidity(s) compared to any other intervention, or b) any adapted or tailored single COPD intervention (simple or complex) that is aimed at changing the management of people with COPD and one or more comorbidities, compared to usual care. We included qualitative studies or mixed-methods studies to identify themes.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods for analysis of the RCTs. We used Cochrane's risk of bias tool for the RCTs and the CASP checklist for the qualitative studies. We planned to use the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool (MMAT) to assess the risk of bias in mixed-methods studies, but we found none. We used GRADE and CERQual to assess the quality of the quantitative and qualitative evidence respectively. The primary outcome measures for this review were quality of life and exacerbations.

MAIN RESULTS

Quantitative studies We included seven studies (1197 participants) in the quantitative analyses, with interventions including telemonitoring, pulmonary rehabilitation, treatment optimisation, water-based exercise training and case management. Interventions were either compared with usual care or with an active comparator (such as land-based exercise training). Duration of trials ranged from 4 to 52 weeks. Mean age of participants ranged from 64 to 72 years and COPD severity ranged from mild to very severe. Trials included either people with COPD and a specific comorbidity (including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, lung cancer, head or neck cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions), or with one or more comorbidities of any type. Overall, we judged the evidence presented to be of moderate to very low certainty (GRADE), mainly due to the methodological quality of included trials and imprecision of effect estimates. Intervention versus usual care Quality of life as measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score may improve with tailored pulmonary rehabilitation compared to usual care at 52 weeks (mean difference (MD) -10.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) -12.66 to -9.04; 1 study, 70 participants; low-certainty evidence). Tailored pulmonary rehabilitation is likely to improve COPD assessment test (CAT) scores compared with usual care at 52 weeks (MD -8.02, 95% CI -9.44 to -6.60; 1 study, 70 participants, moderate-certainty evidence) and with a multicomponent telehealth intervention at 52 weeks (MD -6.90, 95% CI -9.56 to -4.24; moderate-certainty evidence). Evidence is uncertain about effects of pharmacotherapy optimisation or telemonitoring interventions on CAT improvement compared with usual care. There may be little to no difference in the number of people experiencing exacerbations, or mean exacerbations with case management compared with usual care (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.57; 1 study, 470 participants; very low-certainty evidence). For secondary outcomes, six-minute walk distance (6MWD) may improve with pulmonary rehabilitation, water-based exercise or multicomponent interventions at 38 to 52 weeks (low-certainty evidence). A multicomponent intervention may result in fewer people being admitted to hospital at 17 weeks, although there may be little to no difference in a telemonitoring intervention. There may be little to no difference between intervention and usual care for mortality. Intervention versus active comparator We included one study comparing water-based and land-based exercise (30 participants). We found no evidence for quality of life or exacerbations. There may be little to no difference between water- and land-based exercise for 6MWD (MD 5 metres, 95% CI -22 to 32; 38 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Qualitative studies One nested qualitative study (21 participants) explored perceptions and experiences of people with COPD and long-term conditions, and of researchers and health professionals who were involved in an RCT of telemonitoring equipment. Several themes were identified, including health status, beliefs and concerns, reliability of equipment, self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, factors affecting usefulness and perceived usefulness, attitudes and intention, self-management and changes in healthcare use. We judged the qualitative evidence presented as of very low certainty overall.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Owing to a paucity of eligible trials, as well as diversity in the intervention type, comorbidities and the outcome measures reported, we were unable to provide a robust synthesis of data. Pulmonary rehabilitation or multicomponent interventions may improve quality of life and functional status (6MWD), but the evidence is too limited to draw a robust conclusion. The key take-home message from this review is the lack of data from RCTs on treatments for people living with COPD and comorbidities. Given the variation in number and type of comorbidity(s) an individual may have, and severity of COPD, larger studies reporting individual patient data are required to determine these effects.

Does the carer support needs assessment tool cover the established support needs of carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A systematic literature search and narrative review

BACKGROUND

Informal carers play a key supportive role for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, caring can have a considerable impact on health and wellbeing. Carers may have unidentified support needs that could be a target for intervention. Literature on the support needs of informal carers has not been fully synthesised, and our knowledge of the comprehensiveness of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool for these individuals is limited.

AIM

To explore whether the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool covers the support needs of carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease identified in published literature.

DESIGN

English language studies were identified against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria through database searching. Further studies were identified through searching reference lists and citations of included papers. Papers were critically appraised and data extracted and synthesised by two reviewers. Identified needs were mapped to Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool questions.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, CDSR, ASSIA, PsycINFO and Scopus databases (Jan 1997-Dec 2017).

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies were included. Results suggest that carers have support needs in a range of domains including physical, social, psychological and spiritual. Many of these needs are unmet. Particular areas of concern relate to prolonged social isolation, accessing services, emotional support and information needs. Findings also suggest amendment of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool may be required relating to difficulties within relationship management.

CONCLUSION

Evidence suggests that carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease would benefit from identification and response to their support needs by healthcare professionals but to enable this, the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool requires an additional question. Future planned work will explore this with carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Knowledge and Behaviors Toward Health Care for Elderly Patients with Hypertension, and Quality of Life Among Informal Caregivers in Northern Thailand

BACKGROUND

Informal caregivers play an important role in caring for patients with chronic conditions. Little is known about the quality of life among caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among knowledge and behaviors toward health care for elderly patients with hypertension, and the quality of life among informal caregivers.

METHODS

A total of 402 informal caregivers for their elderly co-habitants suffering from hypertension were randomly selected to participate in this cross-sectional study. Data collection was performed in rural areas of Phayao province, located in the northern part of Thailand. Self-administered questionnaires were employed, which covered knowledge and behaviors toward health care for elderly patients with hypertension, and the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire.

RESULTS

The scores of knowledge and behaviors toward health care for elderly patients with hypertension, and the quality of life were at low and fair levels. In the multivariable linear regression model, the results showed that four variables - age, caregiver's relationship to the patient, knowledge, and behaviors toward health care for elderly patients with hypertension - were significantly related to quality of life among caregivers (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge and behaviors toward health care for hypertensive patients influence the quality of life among informal caregivers. The caregivers in rural communities should be encouraged to become educated on the stages of hypertension, preparation for taking care of the elderly with high blood pressure, and effective behavioral care for patients, in order to improve the quality of life of both caregiver and patient. In addition, health care providers should have clear guidelines for development of the health care system to enhance the potential care and quality of life among informal caregivers.

Family members' experiences and expectations of self-management counseling while caring for a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review was to identify and synthesize existing evidence on the experiences and expectations of self-management counseling of adult family members who are informal caregivers of a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the context of inpatient or outpatient care.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is a progressive, lifelong and unpredictable disease. As the disease progresses, both the people with COPD and their family members require information and practical skills to manage the disease. The role of family members is particularly important at the advanced stage of COPD. This systematic review examined family members' experiences and expectations of self-management counseling.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered qualitative studies that investigated adult (older than18 years) family members' experiences or expectations of COPD self-management counseling in the context of inpatient or outpatient care. "Family member" refers to a person who is an informal caregiver because of his or her relationship to the person with COPD.

METHODS

A three-step search strategy was utilized in this review. The search strategy aimed to find published and unpublished studies in English and Finnish. The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and the Finnish medical bibliographic database, Medic, were searched. The search was conducted in December 2015 and updated in September 2018. Titles and abstracts were screened by two independent reviewers for the review's inclusion criteria. Eligible studies were then critically appraised by two independent reviewers for methodological quality. The findings and illustrations of the findings were extracted and assigned a level of credibility. The qualitative research findings were pooled using the JBI method of meta-aggregation.

RESULTS

Ten papers were selected for inclusion in this review. These studies were published from 2002 to 2017. The quality of all included studies was at least moderate. Each study had a total score between 7 and 10 on the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. The following four synthesized findings were aggregated from nine categories and 39 study findings: i) Family members' experiences with unresponsive behavior from health professionals, ii) Family members' experiences of unmet needs in self-management counseling, iii) Family members' information needs concerning COPD management, and iv) Family members' information needs concerning coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

The synthesized findings indicate that family members are frustrated by the shortcomings of self-management counseling. They also feel unprepared for and uncertain about their caring role. They need more information about COPD and coping strategies for COPD. Counseling is essential to high-quality care and should be offered to family members caring for a loved one at any stage of COPD.

The health-related quality-of-life of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and disease-related indirect burdens

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have physical limitations. We investigated EuroQol five-dimensions five-level (EQ-5D-5L) of COPD patients to assess quality of life, and assessed indirect burden including time expenditure to visit doctor, home care rate, and caregiver related burden.

METHODS

We recruited 355 COPD patients according to severity of airflow limitation that severity was set at 10% mild, 40% moderate, 30% severe, and 20% very severe in two primary and 11 secondary/tertiary hospitals. Eligible patients were aged ≥ 40 years, who have been diagnosed with COPD for more than 1 year. Patients were recruited between June 2015 and October 2016.

RESULTS

The quality of life tended to decline with age, from mild to very severe impairment, as revealed by the EQ-5D-5L scores and the EQ visual analog scale. Family caregivers accompanied 22.6% of patients who visited outpatient clinics, and 25% of stage IV COPD patients. During emergency visits and hospitalization, this figure increased to > 60%. The home care rates were 28.5% for stage I patients, and 34.4, 31.8, and 52% for stage II to IV patients, respectively. The percentage of caregivers who stopped working was 13.6%. The EQ-5D index was strongly associated with the dyspnea scale (r = -0.64, p < 0.001). The average required time to see a doctor and visit the pharmacy was 154 minutes.

CONCLUSION

In patients with COPD, the EQ-5D index decreased and disease-related home caregiving increased with airflow limitation. We considered the caregiver- related burden when making a strategy for COPD management.

The relation between self-efficacy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and caregiver burden

AIM

The study was conducted to examine the relation between self-efficacy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and caregiver burden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 200 patients with stage II and III COPD presenting to hospital between June and November in 2017 and their caregivers. Data were gathered with a questionnaire, COPD Assessment Test and COPD Self-Efficacy Scale from the patients. A questionnaire and Caregiver Burden Scale was used to collect data from the caregivers. Obtained data were analysed with the descriptive statistics numbers, percentages, mean, median and standard deviation. Spearman's correlation analysis was utilised to examine the relation between paired groups.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients with COPD was 63.53 years and 51.1% of the patients were female. The mean age of the caregivers was 48.88 ± 14.09 years. 54.4% of the caregivers were aged 40-60 years, and 59.9% of the caregivers were female. The mean score was 26.97 ± 5.25 for COPD Assessment Test and 2.32 ± 0.43 for COPD Self-Efficacy Scale. Of all the caregivers, 64.8% had mild caregiving burden and 18.1% had moderate caregiving burden. The mean score for Caregiver Burden Scale had a significant, moderate relation with the mean score for the subscale physical effort in COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (r = -0.42; p < 0.01) and had a significant, weak, negative relation with the mean total score for COPD Self-Efficacy Scale and the mean scores for its subscales. There was a significant, moderate, positive relation between the mean scores for Caregiver Burden and COPD Assessment Test (r = 0.51; p < 0.001) and a significant, negative relation between the scores for COPD Self-Efficacy Scale and its subscales and the scores for CAT (r = -0.26 - r = -0.52; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

As self-efficacy in COPD patients increases, their health and daily lives are affected less by COPD and caregiver burden decreases.

Palliative care for people with non-malignant respiratory disease and their carers: a review of the current evidence

Background

Internationally, non-malignant respiratory disease is on the increase. However, although palliative care is recommended as an appropriate healthcare option for this client group, evidence suggests that these patients and their carers do not receive the same standards of palliative care as patients with a malignant lung condition.

Aim

The aim of this review was to provide a critical overview of the current evidence base in relation to the palliative service provision for people with non-malignant respiratory disease and their carers.

Methods

A review of the literature was conducted in July 2015 and updated in October 2017 and focused on the palliative care service provision for patients with interstitial lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis.

Results

In total, 71 empirical studies were included in the review and grouped into two main themes: patient and carer's bio-psychosocial symptom needs and management, and palliative care service provision for patients with non-malignant respiratory disease and their carers.

Conclusion

The majority of palliative research focuses on patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A deeper insight is required into the palliative service provision experienced by those with other forms of non-malignant respiratory disease such as bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease.

Searching for "transformative moments": A qualitative study of nurses' work during home visits to COPD patients and their caregivers in Norway

AIM

The integration of families into healthcare services is being emphasized increasingly in healthcare polices. The aim of this study was to investigate how professionals during home visits support both patients and caregivers in accepting and accommodating to illness.

DESIGN

An explorative qualitative design.

METHODS

Participant observations from home visits (N = 20) of pulmonary ambulatory nurses to COPD patients in Norway, followed by interviews with these nurses.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrate the delicate nature of nurses' work during home visits to COPD patients and their caregivers. They support both patients and caregivers in reconciling themselves with the negative consequences of illness, as well as giving legitimation to and potential room for, sustainable arrangements within the scope of the relationship. The nurses address significant issues, having transformative potential concerning attitudes and practices related to the management of illness and adjusting to a complex illness trajectory.

Adult family carers’ perceptions of their educational needs when providing end-of-life care: a systematic review of qualitative research

Background: There is an increasing emphasis on the importance of the palliative and end-of-life care being provided in the community. Key to the success of this is the availability of information and educational support to facilitate carers in their role. The aim of the paper is to explore the educational needs of adult carers providing physical and other care to people at the end of life Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted using meta-ethnography. Five electronic databases were searched to January 2014, combining terms for: cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neurodegenerative conditions, renal disease, heart failure and dementia, with terms for carers and education. Results: A total of 35 papers were included in the review, reporting the experiences of over 900 carers. Throughout the illness trajectory carers were either enabled or hindered in their role by the nature and way information and education were provided. Enabling factors included: a sense of trust in health professionals; timely and accurate information delivered compassionately; access to professionals for information and support particularly during out-of-hours. Where carers experienced a lack of information or support this added to the strain of caring. Carers then felt the need to take on a more active role, acting both as an advocate and decision maker. Conclusions: Carers express information and educational needs throughout the illness trajectory. The quality of health professionals’ communication with carers was fundamental in ensuring carers felt confident and supported. Timely access to information and support from appropriately qualified health professionals should be made available to carers, including the out-of-hours period.

Patients and informal caregivers' experiences of burden of treatment in lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research

OBJECTIVE

To identify, characterise and explain common and specific features of the experience of treatment burden in relation to patients living with lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their informal caregivers.

DESIGN

Systematic review and interpretative synthesis of primary qualitative studies. Papers were analysed using constant comparison and directed qualitative content analysis.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus and Web of Science searched from January 2006 to December 2015.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Primary qualitative studies in English where participants were patients with lung cancer or COPD and/or their informal caregivers, aged >18 years that contain descriptions of experiences of interacting with health or social care in Europe, North America and Australia.

RESULTS

We identified 127 articles with 1769 patients and 491 informal caregivers. Patients, informal caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) acknowledged lung cancer's existential threat. Managing treatment workload was a priority in this condition, characterised by a short illness trajectory. Treatment workload was generally well supported by an immediacy of access to healthcare systems and a clear treatment pathway. Conversely, patients, informal caregivers and HCPs typically did not recognise or understand COPD. Treatment workload was balanced with the demands of everyday life throughout a characteristically long illness trajectory. Consequently, treatment workload was complicated by difficulties of access to, and navigation of, healthcare systems, and a fragmented treatment pathway. In both conditions, patients' capacity to manage workload was enhanced by the support of family and friends, peers and HCPs and diminished by illness/smoking-related stigma and social isolation.

CONCLUSION

This interpretative synthesis has affirmed significant differences in treatment workload between lung cancer and COPD. It has demonstrated the importance of the capacity patients have to manage their workload in both conditions. This suggests a workload which exceeds capacity may be a primary driver of treatment burden.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016048191.

Shifting Life Rhythms: Couples’ Stories about Living Together When One Spouse Has Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Aim: This study examines couples’ experiences of living together when one partner has advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method: Repeated qualitative interviews with four couples over an eight-month period, where one spouse in each couple suffered from advanced COPD. The final dataset comprised 19 interviews. A phenomeno-logical-hermeneutical method was used to interpret the interview text. Findings: One main theme, “living with the disease and one's spouse in a new and changeable life rhythm”, emerged from three subthemes: “living with uncertainty”, “living in a changed intimate relationship”, and “finding new ways of living together”. A mutual sense of companionship between the spouses facilitated their chances of reshaping their relationship and adapting it to the new life rhythm required by everyday life with the disease. Conclusion: The healthy spouse had major responsibility for the health of their sick spouse. Awareness of the couple's own conceptions and knowledge of health and illness is central to person-focused care, as is awareness of what values are important to them when restructuring their everyday life.

Experiences and needs of Bereaved Carers during Palliative and End-Of-Life Care for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Aim: This study explored the experiences of palliative care that bereaved carers had while providing care to a dying loved one with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with nine carers who had lost a loved one in the preceding 6 to 24 months. These interviews explored levels of satisfaction with disease management, symptom management, and end-of-life care. With permission, interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and subjected to content analysis. Findings: Three themes emerged from the data: the impact of the caring experience, the lack of support services, and end-of-life and bereavement support. Carers experienced carer burden, lack of access to support services, a need for palliative care, and bereavement support. Conclusion: The findings provide a first insight into the experiences of carers of patients with advanced COPD. Bereaved carers of patients who had suffered advanced COPD reported that they had received inadequate support and had a range of unmet palliative care needs. Special attention should be paid to educating and supporting carers during their caring and bereavement periods to ensure that their quality of life is maintained or enhanced.

The Experience of Adult Children Caregiving for Aging Parents

When the normal progression of life for an aging person is interrupted by a decline in physical and or mental abilities, adult children are often suddenly faced with assuming care of their parent(s). Currently, adult child caregivers of aging parents work up to 100 hours per month at caregiving. Most existing literature is focused on informal caregivers, which can consist of spouses, relatives, and friends’ caregiving for persons with debilitating illnesses. Despite the amount of time dedicated to parental caregiving, little is known about the experience of this exclusive caregiver group. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experience of adult children caregiving for aging parents at any stage of health. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to interview six daughters and one daughter-in-law. Themes were identified and presented through the use of narratives and poetry. The participants expressed they felt unprepared for caregiving and their culture had a direct impact on the expectations of caregiving. A myriad of unpleasant emotions and loss were voiced, yet their outlooks remained extremely positive. The overall health of adult child caregivers needs to be supported to prepare them for what lies ahead with caregiving. Caregivers report their loved one(s) required several hospitalizations, which lead to performing medical/nursing tasks at home. Nursing then has a unique opportunity during discharge preparation, to identify those who need community, state, and faith-based services. Replication is needed to address the limitation of the number of participants, ethnic, and gender diversity.

'Who Cares?' The experiences of caregivers of adults living with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease: a mixed methods systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the experiences of unpaid caregivers providing care to people with heart failure (HF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or coronary artery disease (CAD). Design Mixed methods systematic review including qualitative and quantitative studies. Data sources Databases searched: Medline Ebsco, PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Embase, Web of Science, Ethos: The British Library and ProQuest. Grey literature identified using: Global Dissertations and Theses and Applied Sciences Index and hand searches and citation checking of included references. Search time frame: 1 January 1990 to 30 August 2017.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Inclusion was limited to English language studies in unpaid adult caregivers (>18 years), providing care for patients with HF, COPD or CAD. Studies that considered caregivers for any other diagnoses and studies undertaken in low-income and middle-income countries were excluded. Quality assessment of included studies was conducted by two authors.

DATA ANALYSIS/SYNTHESIS

A results-based convergent synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

Searches returned 8026 titles and abstracts. 54 studies-21 qualitative, 32 quantitative and 1 mixed method were included. This totalled 26 453 caregivers who were primarily female (63%), with median age of 62 years. Narrative synthesis yielded six concepts related to caregiver experience: (1) mental health, (2) caregiver role, (3) lifestyle change, (4) support for caregivers, (5) knowledge and (6) relationships. There was a discordance between paradigms regarding emerging concepts. Four concepts emerged from qualitative papers which were not present in quantitative papers: (1) expert by experience, (2) vigilance, (3) shared care and (4) time.

CONCLUSION

Caregiving is life altering and complex with significant health implications. Health professionals should support caregivers who in turn can facilitate the recipient to manage their long-term condition. Further longitudinal research exploring the evolution of caregiver experiences over time of patients with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions is required.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016053412.

Support needs of patients with COPD: a systematic literature search and narrative review

Introduction

Understanding the breadth of patients’ support needs is important for the delivery of person-centered care, particularly in progressive long-term conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Existing reviews identify important aspects of managing life with COPD with which patients may need support (support needs); however, none of these comprehensively outlines the full range of support needs that patients can experience. We therefore sought to systematically determine the full range of support needs for patients with COPD to inform development of an evidence-based tool to enable person-centered care.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search and narrative review of the literature. Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were systematically searched for papers which included data addressing key aspects of support need, as identified by patients with COPD. Relevant data were extracted, and a narrative analysis was conducted.

Results

Thirty-one papers were included in the review, and the following 13 domains (broad areas) of support need were identified: 1) understanding COPD, 2) managing symptoms and medication, 3) healthy lifestyle, 4) managing feelings and worries, 5) living positively with COPD, 6) thinking about the future, 7) anxiety and depression, 8) practical support, 9) finance work and housing, 10) families and close relationships, 11) social and recreational life, 12) independence, and 13) navigating services. These 13 domains of support need were mapped to three of the four overarching categories of need commonly used in relevant national strategy documents (ie, physical, psychological, and social); however, support needs related to the fourth category (spiritual) were notably absent.

Conclusion

This review systematically identifies the comprehensive set of domains of support need for patients with COPD. The findings provide the evidence base for a tool to help patients identify and express their support needs, which underpins a proposed intervention to enable the delivery of person-centered care: the Support Needs Approach for Patients (SNAP).

Living with breathlessness: a systematic literature review and qualitative synthesis

What is the experience of people living with breathlessness due to medical conditions, those caring for them and those treating them, with regard to quality of life and the nature of clinical interactions?Electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus and PsycINFO) were searched (January 1987 to October 2017; English language), for qualitative studies exploring the experience of chronic breathlessness (patients, carers and clinicians). Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and papers retrieved against inclusion criteria. Disagreements were resolved with a third reviewer. Primary qualitative data were extracted and synthesised using thematic synthesis.Inclusion and synthesis of 101 out of 2303 international papers produced four descriptive themes: 1) widespread effects of breathlessness; 2) coping; 3) help-seeking behaviour; and 4) clinicians' responsiveness to the symptom of breathlessness. The themes were combined to form the concept of "breathing space", to show how engaged coping and appropriate help-seeking (patient) and attention to symptom (clinician) helps maximise the patient's quality of living with breathlessness.Breathlessness has widespread impact on both patient and carer and affects breathing space. The degree of breathing space is influenced by interaction between the patient's coping style, their help-seeking behaviour and their clinician's responsiveness to breathlessness itself, in addition to managing the underlying disease.

Assessing carer needs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Informal carers play a key role in supporting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly when disease is advanced. They also enable delivery of healthcare professional advice. There is a well-established impact of the caring role on carers in both the generic and COPD-specific literature. The needs of carers of patients with COPD are both generic to the caring role and disease specific. Healthcare professionals and health systems supporting patients with COPD need to actively identify and support carers. Carer assessment enables unmet needs to be identified and appropriately addressed. Assessments should consider carers' support needs, their caring capacity and practices, and carers own clinical needs. This narrative review outlines considerations for the assessment process including what should be assessed, who should conduct assessment and what should happen as a result of assessment.

The experience of palliative care service provision for people with non-malignant respiratory disease and their family carers: An all-Ireland qualitative study

AIM

To explore specialist and generalist palliative care provision for people with non-malignant respiratory disease, in rural and urban areas in the North and Republic of Ireland.

BACKGROUND

Globally, palliative care is recommended as an appropriate healthcare option for people with advanced non-malignant lung disease. Yet, there is limited evidence regarding the integration of palliative care for this client group.

DESIGN

Qualitative study.

METHODS

Convenience sample of 17 bereaved carers and 18 healthcare professionals recruited from two rural and two urban sites on the Island of Ireland. Data were collected throughout 2012 and 2013 through semi-structured interviews with carers of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (N = 12), interstitial lung disease (N = 4) or bronchiectasis (N = 1) who had died 3-18 months previously; and four focus groups with healthcare professionals. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis framework.

RESULTS

Carers' interviews yielded three overarching themes: (1) lack of preparedness for death, due to ambiguity regarding disease trajectory; (2) lack of consistency in palliative care delivery, in relation with the receipt of generalist and specialist palliative care; and (3) role ambiguity, related to their caregiving role. Focus groups identified two overarching themes: (1) barriers to appropriate palliative care; and (2) the future direction of palliative care for patient with non-malignant respiratory disease.

CONCLUSION

The uncertain disease trajectory was not only experienced by carers but also healthcare professionals. Although referral to specialist palliative care services was perceived as increasing, the availability and coordination of generalist and specialist palliative care services were fragmented and varied dependent on geographical location.

Associations between the psychological health of patients and carers in advanced COPD

Objective

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in patients with COPD and their informal carers, and associated with numerous risk factors. However, few studies have investigated these in primary care or the link between patient and carer anxiety and depression. We aimed to determine this association and factors associated with anxiety and depression in patients, carers, and both (dyads), in a population-based sample.

Materials and methods

This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of 119 advanced COPD patients and their carers. Patient and carer scores ≥8 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale defined symptoms of anxiety and depression, χ² tests determined associations between patient and carer symptoms of anxiety/depression, and χ² and independent t-tests for normally distributed variables (otherwise Mann–Whitney U tests) were used to identify other variables significantly associated with these symptoms in the patient or carer. Patient–carer dyads were categorized into four groups relating to the presence of anxious/depressive symptoms in: both patient and carer, patient only, carer only, and neither. Factors associated with dyad symptoms of anxiety/depression were determined with χ² tests and one-way analysis of variance for normally distributed variables (otherwise Kruskal–Wallis tests).

Results

Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression was 46.4% (n=52) and 42.9% (n=48) in patients, and 46% (n=52) and 23% (n=26) in carers, respectively. Patient and carer symptoms of anxiety/depression were significantly associated. Anxious and depressive symptoms in the patient were also significantly associated with more physical comorbidities, more exacerbations, greater dyspnea, greater fatigue, poor mastery, and depressive symptoms with younger age. Symptoms of carer anxiety were significantly associated with being female and separated/divorced/widowed, and depressive symptoms with younger age, higher educational level, and more physical comorbidities, and symptoms of carer anxiety and depression with more unmet support needs, greater subjective caring burden, and poor patient mastery. Dyad symptoms of anxiety/depression were significantly associated with greater patient fatigue.

Conclusion

Symptoms of anxiety and depression in COPD patients and carers are significantly associated. Given their high prevalence, considerable impact on mortality, impact on quality of life and health care use, and associations with each other, screening for and addressing patient and carer anxiety and depression in advanced COPD is recommended.

Patients' and their family members' experiences of participation in care following an acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A phenomenological-hermeneutic study

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To explore the experiences of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their family members relating both to participation in care during hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and to the subsequent day-to-day care at home.

BACKGROUND

When recovering from an exacerbation, the challenges associated with an unpredictable health condition dominate everyday life for patients and can involve their family members. Proper patient and family participation in care during discharge and follow-up can help patients to improve self-management. However, knowledge of the significance of patient and family participation for recovery and subsequent everyday life is still limited.

DESIGN

This study adopted a longitudinal design informed by ethnographic fieldwork principles.

METHODS

Participant observations and interviews with 15 patients and 12 family members were conducted on a Danish hospital ward and twice at the participants' homes. A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur's theory of interpretation guided the data analysis.

RESULTS

Participation in care was perceived as valuable, but could be associated with tensions and increased uncertainty. While patients mostly demonstrated a reactive approach to care, family members strived to be more proactive. In hospital, preparing for discharge included an effort to find a balance between powerlessness and influence during interactions with healthcare professionals. At home, managing further recovery and self-management were characterised by navigating between mutual pressure and consideration within the family.

CONCLUSION

Family members play an important role in ensuring that patients are seen, heard and understood, but want to be acknowledged more by healthcare professionals. Appropriate interactions with healthcare professionals are crucial in order to support discharge and daily self-management.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Knowledge of the challenges that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their family members face in participating in care activities could inform future development of family-centred care approaches tailored to individual needs.

Prognostic variables and scores identifying the end of life in COPD: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

COPD is a major cause of mortality, and the unpredictable trajectory of the disease can bring challenges to end-of-life care. We aimed to investigate known prognostic variables and scores that predict prognosis in COPD in a systematic literature review, specifically including variables that contribute to risk assessment of patients for death within 12 months.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review on prognostic variables, multivariate score or models for COPD. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane database, Cochrane CENTRAL, DARE and CINAHL were searched up to May 1, 2016.

RESULTS

A total of 5,276 abstracts were screened, leading to 516 full-text reviews, and 10 met the inclusion criteria. No multivariable indices were developed with the specific aim of predicting all-cause mortality in stable COPD within 12 months. Only nine indices were identified from four studies, which had been validated for this time period. Tools developed using expert knowledge were also identified, including the Gold Standards Framework Prognostic Indicator Guidance, the RADboud Indicators of Palliative Care Needs, the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool and the Necesidades Paliativas program tool.

CONCLUSION

A number of variables contributing to the prediction of all-cause mortality in COPD were identified. However, there are very few studies that are designed to assess, or report, the prediction of mortality at or less than 12 months. The quality of evidence remains low, such that no single variable or multivariable score can currently be recommended.

Resilience as a concept for understanding family caregiving of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): an integrative review

AIMS

This paper was a report of the synthesis of evidence on examining the origins and definitions of the concept of resilience, investigating its application in chronic illness management and exploring its utility as a means of understanding family caregiving of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND

Resilience is a concept that is becoming relevant to understanding how individuals and families live with illness, especially long-term conditions. Caregivers of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease must be able to respond to exacerbations of the condition and may themselves experience cognitive imbalances. Yet, resilience as a way of understanding family caregiving of adults with COPD is little explored.

DESIGN

Literature review - integrative review.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar and EBSCO were searched between 1989-2015.

REVIEW METHODS

The principles of rapid evidence assessment were followed.

RESULTS

We identified 376 relevant papers: 20 papers reported the presence of the concept of resilience in family caregivers of chronic diseases patients but only 12 papers reported the presence of the concept of resilience in caregivers of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients and have been included in the synthesis. The term resilience in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease caregiving is most often understood using a deficit model of health.

Negotiating the care-giving role: family members' experience during critical exacerbation of COPD in Norway

Healthcare policies often state that complex conditions are to be treated outside hospital in various forms of public-private partnership. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive illness that includes episodes of serious acute exacerbations characterised by extreme breathlessness. There is limited knowledge about COPD exacerbations from the perspective of family caregivers and implications of the changing boundary between hospital care and care at home. In this paper, we explore how caregivers negotiate their role as caregivers with patients and healthcare professionals during acute exacerbations. We conducted 10 qualitative interviews with family caregivers of COPD patients in 2011, all were spouses over the age of 60. The participants were recruited through the patient pool of ambulatory pulmonary services of two hospitals in Oslo, Norway. Data were interpreted using thematic analysis. The caregivers described a lack of understanding and support from health professionals in some situations. They shouldered considerable responsibility, but were not always acknowledged as competent carers by professionals. Caregivers had to balance their involvement. They noted that they could lose the professionals' co-operation if their involvement was perceived as interfering or preventing the professionals from exercising their expertise. However, by not sharing their personalised knowledge about the patients, they risked that the professionals would not understand the severity of the exacerbation, which could undermine their own ability to maintain a sense of safety and control. The negotiations caregivers participated in and the uncertainty they experienced shed new light on the complexity of their role, and the discrepancy between practice and ideals in healthcare policy regarding collaboration of care. It is crucial to develop further knowledge about structural, interactional and communicational facilitators and barriers for reaching shared understandings and facilitating mutual trust in these demanding situations.

Clinicians' Views of Educational Interventions for Carers of Patients With Breathlessness Due to Advanced Disease: Findings From an Online Survey

CONTEXT

Carers' needs in advanced disease, and specifically in relation to breathlessness, are well evidenced. Publications on educational interventions for carers of patients with advanced disease that focus on symptoms are scarce and absent for breathlessness.

OBJECTIVES

To establish current education provided by clinicians for carers of patients with breathlessness in advanced disease, views about educating carers about breathlessness, and relevant outcomes for a future randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention for carers.

METHODS

An online survey was completed by 365 clinicians: medical, nursing, and allied health professionals from primary care, hospital, and hospice. Descriptive statistics summarized respondent characteristics and survey responses, and the Chi-squared test was applied. Content analysis of free-text comments was conducted.

RESULTS

Most clinicians reported educating carers by educating patients at clinical contacts with patients. Carer involvement was largely an 'add-on'; an active carer education strategy, where all carers were invited to attend, was not currently apparent. Clinicians endorsed the importance of educating carers about breathlessness through increasing carer confidence and/or control, helping patients' better self-manage breathlessness and potentially reducing admissions. Joint education with patients, giving practical advice, and strategies for helping patients were advised. To inform a future trial, clinicians identified improvement in patient outcomes, particularly patient quality of life as very important in enhancing clinician adoption of an educational intervention for carers.

CONCLUSION

This survey revealed an appetite among clinicians for an educational intervention for carers of patients with breathlessness in advanced disease and provided important insights to underpin a future Phase II randomized controlled trial.

Impacts of COPD on family carers and supportive interventions: a narrative review

Caring for a relative with chronic disease influences multiple dimensions of family carers' lives. This study aimed to provide an overview of the impacts of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on family carers and identify interventions aimed at supporting them. A narrative review was conducted. Searches were performed in electronic databases using a combination of keywords. Articles were screened for relevance and selected articles were analysed in two groups considering the study aims. Eighteen articles were selected. Fifteen studies evaluated the impacts of COPD on family carers and three studies presented interventions aimed at supporting them. Carers reported negative impacts of caring on physical health, emotional, social, relational and financial/employment life dimensions. Positive aspects of care-giving were reported in four studies and were related to carers' personal growth and satisfaction in being able to do something useful for their relatives. The existing interventions were directed at both patients and carers; however, studies provided limited information on how carers were involved, hindering the interpretation of findings. In conclusion, COPD poses several unique challenges to family carers related to the specificities of the disease. Further research with appropriate intervention studies is needed to promote carers' healthy adjustment to the disease.

Worry and time: the unseen costs of informal care

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to examine the experiences of informal carers in terms of how their time spent caring is related to worry. Is worry about a care recipient a care practice, and if so, to what extent it can be understood temporally?

METHODS

Classical phenomenology underpinned this study. Three qualitative studies of people living with chronic illness in Australia were conducted between 2009 and 2013. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Phenomenological thematic analysis of the data was undertaken.

RESULTS

Twenty-five informal carers participated. The findings pivot around three interconnected themes: time, worry and cost. Worry was identified as a temporally bound unseen cost to carers that informs carer identity irrespective of culture, ethnicity, or social status.

DISCUSSION

Worry is a practice that most carers report engaging in and it is one that comes with a temporal cost-it keeps people busy looking after the needs of others during the day and it keeps some people awake when they would rather be sleeping. Worry takes time and effort, it informs people's construction of their own sense of self, motivates acts of care, and informs carers' imaginings of what their future and that of their loved one(s) may entail.

COPD patients' medical care and support in Greece during financial crisis

BACKGROUND

The need to follow a multidisciplinary strategy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management and rehabilitation in community settings in Greece raises significant questions, given the severe austerity measures being imposed at present. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical profile of patients with COPD along with the care provided in rural community settings in Greece.

METHODS

Two primary health care centers and 200 newly diagnosed patients over a 12-month period were involved in the study. A self-assessment questionnaire, including questions about smoking habits, the presence of comorbidities and chronic respiratory symptoms, as well as the COPD Assessment Test were used. Spirometry was performed with a dry spirometer. Obstructive spirometry was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio <0.7, according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines.

RESULTS

Males comprised 70% of the sample, with cough and sputum being the prominent signs. Regarding COPD staging, 68.5% were classified in stages I/II. Arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease were the most common comorbidities. Current smokers accounted for 88.5%, while 88% were heavy drinkers. A general practitioner made the diagnosis in 68.5% of the cases, among which offspring and spouses provided home care in 38% and 8% of the cases, respectively, while an informal caregiver other than a relative was reported in 34% of the cases. No caregiver (self-care) was reported in 20% of the cases. All patients of stage III and IV had a COPD Assessment Test score >10.

CONCLUSION

Patients with COPD dwelling in the community exhibit an overall mild-to-moderate type of COPD. General practitioner is in charge of COPD management. Informal caregiving is the major type of home care, with nonfamily members playing a significant role. The patients' profile permits limited optimism about their future perspective and urges for immediate action at primary care level.

Prognostic variables and scores identifying the last year of life in COPD: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

People living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from significant morbidity, reduced quality of life and high mortality, and are likely to benefit from many aspects of a palliative care approach. Prognostic estimates are a meaningful part of decision-making and better evidence for such estimates would facilitate advance care planning. We aim to provide quality evidence on known prognostic variables and scores which predict a prognosis in COPD of <12 months for use in the community.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will conduct a systematic review of randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials, prospective and retrospective longitudinal cohort and case-control studies on prognostic variables, multivariate scores or models for COPD. The search will cover the period up to April 2016. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with data extraction using fields from the Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS) checklist for multivariate models, and study quality will be assessed using a modified version of the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and national and international conference presentations.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016033866.

What Are the Key Elements of Educational Interventions for Lay Carers of Patients With Advanced Disease? A Systematic Literature Search and Narrative Review of Structural Components, Processes and Modes of Delivery

CONTEXT

Educating carers about symptom management may help meet patient and carer needs in relation to distressing symptoms in advanced disease. Reviews of the effectiveness of carer interventions exist, but few have focused on educational interventions and none on the key elements that comprise them but which could inform evidence-based design.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the key elements (structural components, processes, and delivery modes) of educational interventions for carers of patients with advanced disease.

METHODS

We systematically searched seven databases, applied inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducted quality appraisal, extracted data, and performed a narrative analysis.

RESULTS

We included 62 articles related to 49 interventions. Two main delivery modes were identified: personnel-delivered interventions and stand-alone resources. Personnel-delivered interventions targeted individuals or groups, the former conducted at single or multiple time points, and the latter delivered as series. Just more than half targeted carers rather than patient-carer dyads. Most were developed for cancer; few focused purely on symptom management. Stand-alone resources were rare. Methods to evaluate interventions ranged from postintervention evaluations to fully powered randomized controlled trials but of variable quality.

CONCLUSION

Published evaluations of educational interventions for carers in advanced disease are limited, particularly for non-cancer conditions. Key elements for consideration in developing such interventions were identified; however, lack of reporting of reasons for nonparticipation or dropout from interventions limits understanding of the contribution of these elements to interventions' effectiveness. When developing personnel-delivered interventions for carers in advanced disease, consideration of the disease (and, therefore, caring) trajectory, intervention accessibility (timing, location, and transport), and respite provision may be helpful.

Informal caregivers of patients with COPD: Home Sweet Home?

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on society is increasing. Healthcare systems should support patients with COPD in achieving an optimal quality of life, while limiting the costs of care. As a consequence, a shift from hospital care to home care seems inevitable. Therefore, patients will have to rely to a greater extent on informal caregivers. Patients with COPD as well as their informal caregivers are confronted with multiple limitations in activities of daily living. The presence of an informal caregiver is important to provide practical help and emotional support. However, caregivers can be overprotective, which can make patients more dependent. Informal caregiving may lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, social isolation and a changed relationship with the patient. The caregivers' subjective burden is a major determinant of the impact of caregiving. Therefore, the caregiver's perception of the patient's health is an important factor. This article reviews the current knowledge about these informal caregivers of patients with COPD, the impact of COPD on their lives and their perception of the patient's health status.

Family-based psychosocial support and education as part of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Involving family as part of the patient's rehabilitation plan of care might enhance the management of COPD. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a family-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on patients and family members' coping strategies to manage COPD.

METHODS

Family dyads (patient and family member) were randomly assigned to family-based (experimental) or conventional (control) PR. Patients from both groups underwent exercise training three times a week and psychosocial support and education once a week, during 12 weeks. Family members of the family-based PR attended the psychosocial support and education sessions together with patients. In the conventional PR, family members did not participate. Family coping and psychosocial adjustment to illness were assessed in patients and family members of both groups. Patients' exercise tolerance, functional balance, muscle strength, and health-related quality of life were also measured. All measures were collected pre/post-program.

RESULTS

Forty-two dyads participated (patients: FEV1, 70.4% ± 22.1% predicted). Patients (P = .048) and family members (P = .004) in the family-based PR had significantly greater improvements in family coping than the control group. Family members of the family-based PR had significantly greater changes in sexual relationships (P = .026) and in psychologic distress (P = .033) compared with the control group. Patients from both groups experienced significant improvements in exercise tolerance, functional balance, knee extensors strength, and health-related quality of life after intervention (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

This research supports family-based PR programs to enhance coping and psychosocial adjustment to illness of the family system.

TRIAL REGISTRY

ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT02048306; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

An observational, longitudinal study on the home environment of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the research protocol of the Home Sweet Home study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents an important public health challenge. Patients are confronted with limitations during activities of daily living (ADLs). Resident loved ones of patients with COPD may be uniquely positioned to witness these limitations. COPD may have an impact on not only the patients' life, but also on the lives of the resident loved ones. Furthermore, COPD exacerbation-related hospital admissions often occur in patients with COPD. However, whether and to what extent these admissions influence resident loved ones' burden and health status remains currently unknown. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study are to investigate the differences between patients with COPD and resident loved ones' perceptions of patients' health status and problematic ADLs and to study prospectively the effects of a COPD exacerbation on resident loved ones' perceptions of patients' health status and problematic ADLs.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

An observational, longitudinal study will be performed in 192 patients with COPD and their 192 resident loved ones. Primary outcomes are daily functioning, ADL, disease-specific health status, generic health status and dyspnoea. These will be assessed during home visits at baseline and after 12 months. Additional home visits will be performed when a COPD exacerbation-related hospital admission occurs during the 12-month follow-up period.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, the Netherlands (NL42721.060.12/M12-1280) and is registered in the Dutch Trial Register (NTR3941).

The effects of a telehealth coping skills intervention on outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: primary results from the INSPIRE-II study

OBJECTIVE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life (QoL). Novel interventions are needed to improve outcomes in COPD patients. The present study assessed the effects of a telephone-based coping skills intervention on psychological and somatic QoL and on the combined medical end point of COPD-related hospitalizations and all-cause mortality.

METHODS

We conducted a dual-site, randomized clinical trial with assessments at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment. The study population comprised 326 outpatients with COPD aged 38 to 81 years, randomized to coping skills training (CST) or to COPD education (COPD-ED). Patients completed a battery of QoL instruments, pulmonary function tests, and functional measures and were followed up for up to 4.4 years to assess medical outcomes.

RESULTS

The CST group exhibited greater improvements in psychological QoL compared with controls (p = .001), including less depression (Cohen d = 0.22 [95% confidence interval, or CI = 0.08-0.36]) and anxiety (d = 0.17 [95% CI = 0.02-0.33]), and better overall mental health (d = 0.17 [95% CI = 0.03-0.32]), emotional role functioning (d = 0.29 [95% CI = 0.10-0.48]), vitality (d = 0.27 [95% CI = 0.11, 0.42]), and social functioning (d = 0.21 [95% CI = 0.03-0.38]). A significant baseline psychological QoL by treatment group interaction revealed that CST with lower QoL at baseline achieved even greater improvements in psychological QoL compared with COPD-ED. CST participants also exhibited greater improvements in somatic QoL (p = .042), including greater improvements in pulmonary QoL (d = 0.13 [95% CI = 0.01-0.24]), less fatigue (d = 0.34 [95% CI = 0.18-0.50]), and less shortness of breath (d = 0.11 [95% CI = -0.01 to 0.23]) and greater improvement in distance walked on the Six-Minute Walk test (d = 0.09 [95% CI = 0.01-0.16]). However, there was no significant difference in risk of time to COPD-related hospitalization or all-cause mortality between CST (34 events) and COPD-ED (32 events; p = 0.430).

CONCLUSIONS

A telehealth CST intervention produced clinically meaningful improvements in QoL and functional capacity, but no overall improvement in risk of COPD-related hospitalization and all-cause mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00736268.

Development of a family-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme: an exploratory study

PURPOSE

This study explored the expectations of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and family members about a family-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme; developed and implemented a family-based PR programme and explored the impacts of the intervention on patients and family members.

METHOD

Patients with COPD and family members were interviewed. A family-based PR programme was designed. Patients' breathlessness, muscle strength, exercise tolerance, functional balance and health-related quality of life were collected pre/post-programme. Family coping and adjustment to illness were measured in patients and family members. Focus groups were conducted after the programme.

RESULTS

Patients (n = 35; 69 ± 10 years; FEV1 62 ± 15% predicted) and family members (n = 35; 57 ± 12 years) had similar expectations/needs about a PR programme. Nine dyads participated. Patients' quadriceps strength, exercise tolerance and functional balance improved significantly (all p values < 0.023). Patients and family members seem to use more positive coping behaviours (p = 0.026; p = 0.011). Patients (n = 7; 78%) and family members (n = 8; 89%) considered having more knowledge about COPD and its management. Patients felt more functional (n = 9; 100%) and reported their family members to be more active (n = 3; 38%). In family members' perspective, their relationship with the care receiver was enhanced (n = 2; 22%).

CONCLUSIONS

PR programmes, if inclusive of family members, may enhance the skills of the whole family to manage COPD. Implications for Rehabilitation Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their family members have similar expectations and needs about a family-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme. A family-based PR programme is feasible to implement within primary care. PR programmes, if inclusive of family members, may enhance the skills of the whole family to manage COPD.

Caring for relatives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: how does the disease severity impact on family carers?

OBJECTIVES

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of disability, morbidity and mortality in old age, representing a significant burden for families. However, information on the impacts of caring for relatives with COPD on carers' psychological health is limited. This study aimed to analyse the subjective burden of family carers of people with early and advanced COPD and its predictor variables.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographics and care-giving characteristics. Self-rated physical and mental health were measured by two items from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health checklist. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess anxiety and depression. Subjective burden was assessed with the Carers' Assessment of Difficulties Index (CADI). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 167 family carers participated: 113 were caring for people with early and 54 with advanced COPD. Both groups presented anxiety/depression symptoms. Those caring for people with advanced COPD reported higher subjective burden, more depression symptoms and poorer self-rated mental health than those caring for early COPD. Advanced COPD (coefficient 6.7), depression (coefficient 6.3), anxiety (coefficient 5.6), care-giving hours per week (coefficient 3.2) and self-rated mental health (coefficient 2.8) were significant predictors of carers' subjective burden.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the gradual course of COPD imposes an increasing physical and emotional burden on carers, with negative impacts on their psychological health. The study highlights the relevance of early interventions in the context of COPD to prevent carers' burden.

Home care safety markers: a scoping review

Safety in home care is a new research frontier, and one in which demand for services continues to rise. A scoping review of the home care literature on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure was thus completed to identify safety markers that could serve to develop our understanding of safety in this sector. Results generated seven safety markers: (a) Home alone; (b) A fixed agenda in a foreign language; (c) Strangers in the home; (d) The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker; (e) Medication mania; (f) Out of pocket: The cost of caring at home; and (g) My health for yours: Declining caregiver health.

The experiences of palliative care health service provision for people with non-malignant respiratory disease and their caregivers: an all-Ireland study

AIM

To explore the perception of palliative care provision for people with non-malignant respiratory disease from the perspective of bereaved caregivers.

BACKGROUND

It is recognized that the majority of patients diagnosed with a malignant disease will have access to palliative care provision. However, it is less clear if the same standards of palliative care are available to those with non-malignant respiratory disease in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

DESIGN

A qualitative study based on broad interpretivism.

METHODS

This research is a PhD study funded by the Department of Education and Learning in Northern Ireland (awarded February 2011). Data collection will consist of two stages; interviews with 20 bereaved caregivers of people who have died 3-18 months previously with a diagnosis of non-malignant respiratory disease and four focus groups with healthcare professionals involved in the care of this client group. This study will be carried out at four healthcare sites across the Island of Ireland. The data will be analysed using thematic content analysis. Research Ethics committee approval was obtained (March 2012).

DISCUSSION

This research will explore the experiences of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disease and Bronchiectasis and their caregivers from the perspective of the bereaved caregiver. The outcomes of this study will provide a critical first step in the development of more responsive palliative care for this client group and have important implications for future practice and policy in the palliative care provided to this client group.