Informing community pharmacists on COPD case-finding methods: A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Public Health
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) presents significant human and economic burdens.
• Early detection is a key strategy to mitigate the impact of COPD.
• Pharmacists can play a vital role in improving COPD case-finding strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of current case-finding approaches for COPD.
• To inform pharmacists' strategies for identifying patients with undiagnosed COPD.
• To analyze the effectiveness and yield of various case-finding methods.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted.
• Methodology adhered to Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA ScR guidelines.
• Studies were thematically analyzed, focusing on case-finding strategies, yield, and practitioner involvement.

Main Results:

• 170 eligible studies were identified, revealing 20 distinct case-finding approaches.
• Average yields for new COPD cases ranged from 3.8% to 29%.
• The highest yield was achieved using a combination of questionnaires, peak flow meters, and pre-post spirometry, often initiated with questionnaires.

Conclusions:

• The most effective case-finding approach for COPD involves pre-post spirometry after initial screening with a peak flow meter and questionnaire.
• These evidence-based methods can guide pharmacists and researchers in identifying high-risk patients for timely interventions.
• Optimizing case-finding enhances early diagnosis and management of COPD.