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Renaming COPD exacerbations: the UK respiratory nursing perspective
Christine Mwasuku1,2, Joanne King3, Richard E K Russell1,2
1Respiratory Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
|September 24, 2021
Summary
Respiratory nurses find the term "exacerbation" unclear for COPD patients. They suggest alternatives like "flare-up" or "lung attack" for better patient understanding and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Healthcare Communication
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients experience acute worsening events.
- Current terminology for these events lacks consensus, leading to varied usage in the UK.
- The perspective of respiratory nurses on the term 'exacerbation' remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the perspective of UK respiratory nurses on the term 'exacerbation'.
- To compare the term 'exacerbation' with alternative terms used in the UK.
- To identify preferred terminology for COPD acute worsening events from a nursing standpoint.
Main Methods:
- An anonymised online survey with 17 questions was distributed to respiratory nurses.
- The survey remained accessible for one month.
- Data was collected on nurse preferences and understanding of 'exacerbation' versus alternative terms.
Main Results:
- 113 nurses responded to the survey.
- No consensus was found among nurses regarding the preference or meaning of 'exacerbation'.
- Less than 5% of nurses believed patients with COPD would understand 'exacerbation'; preferred terms included 'flare-up', 'lung attack', and 'crisis', with 'crisis' resonating most with clinical practice.
Conclusions:
- The term 'exacerbation' is considered inadequate for communicating with patients with COPD by UK respiratory nurses.
- Alternative terms should be explored to improve patient comprehension and clinical communication.
- The term 'crisis' shows potential for better alignment with clinical practice.
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