Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Paper Summary:

The paper describes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including its diagnosis, current treatments and its interdisciplinary care. The paper examines the guidelines and implementation of the 2007 "Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease", also known as the COPD-X Plan, and focuses on emergency nursing roles and practices. The paper limits itself to looking at aspects of diagnosis and treatments of acute exacerbation of COPD. The paper also compares the COPD-X Plan with the "Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease" guidelines. The paper concludes that while there is a need for more research to derive more empirically-established and consistent guidelines for interdisciplinary use, present guidelines in use must be adhered to as the next best measure for COPD treatment until such evidence is present.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
Discussion/Critique
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has remained one of the top ten diseases resulting in death worldwide. It is the third and second most prevalent and burdensome disease in Australia and New Zealand, respectively (McKenzie, Frith, Burdon & Town, 2007).It is also among the top ten causes of mortality in Australia and New Zealand, the fourth in the United States and been noted to be rising (McKenzie, Frith, Burdon & Town, 2007; Smithline, Rowe, Radeos, Cydulka & Camargo, 2005). In spite of these facts, there have been inconsistencies between the goal of reducing morbidities and mortalities associated with COPD and the means by which the different health policy societies have outlined. These inconsistencies are manifested in the construction of recommendations of different national and international societies such as the American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society and British Thoracic Society - recommendations which, for all intents and purposes, should be uniform and unambiguous (Ferguson, 2000). This especially pertains to aspects of diagnosis and treatment. While these discrepancies may seem trivial, their cumulative impact can be seen above."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abramson MJ, Crockett AJ, Frith PA & McDonald CF. (2006). COPDX: an update of guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with a review of recent evidence MJA, 184(7), 342-345. Retrieved April 14, 2007 from https://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/184_07_030406/abr10742_fm.pdf
• Barr RG, Rowe BH & Camargo CA Jr. (2003). Methylxanthines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ, 20;327(7416), 643. Retrieved April 14, 2007 from http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7416/643
• Blackler L, Mooney C & Jones C. (2004). Palliative care in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Br J Nurs., 13(9), 518-21. Retrieved April 14, 2007 from the Pubmed Database.
• Borg BM, Reid DW, Walters EH & Johns DP. (2004). Bronchodilator reversibility testing: laboratory practices in Australia and New Zealand. Med J Aust, 180(12), 610-3. Retrieved April 14, 2007 from http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/180_12_210604/bor10368_fm.html
• Celli B, Cross S, Grossman R, Kardos P, Myrseth SE, Rodriguez-Roisin R, et al. (2006). Improving the care of COPD patients - suggested action points by the COPD exacerbations taskforce for reducing the burden of exacerbations of COPD. Prim Care Respir J., 15(3), 139-42. Retrieved April 14, 2007 from http://www.thepcrj.org/journ/vol15/15_3_139_142.pdf

More papers on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):

• Term Paper # 108298 : "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease"
• Research Paper # 111915 : "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease"
• Analytical Essay # 130287 : "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Lung Disease"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: