The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has grown over the last several decades, particularly in specific populations such as women and individuals living in rural areas. COPD is not simply a “smoker’s cough” but an underdiagnosed, life-threatening lung disease. A multitude of factors must be considered when selecting the most appropriate inhaled medication for each patient with COPD. These factors include the patient’s ability to use the device properly, the need for multiple inhaled medications, convenience, patient preferences, clinical evidence, symptom burden, and exacerbation risk. In light of the numerous options available for maintenance therapy for patients with COPD, choosing the most appropriate treatment can be challenging. Moreover, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) consistently updates management recommendations to reflect the latest advances and inform treatment selection. Despite these advances, the management of COPD remains inadequate. The Respiratory Education Hub has been developed to assist health care providers in the diagnosis and management of COPD with CME/CE certified activities from renowned experts in the field, animations that can be used as a teaching tool for team members and patients, and downloadable resources to use in practice.
In this recorded webcast, case-based CME Outfitters activity, a panel of experts in ILD explores strategies for implementing equitable, multidisciplinary care for all patients with ILD. The critical roles of assessing social determinants of health, engaging in shared decision-making with patients, and evaluating potential implicit bias are among the topics covered in this important initiative.
Shared decision making (SDM) is a key component of patient-centered health care. The SHARE Approach is a five-step process for SDM that provides a framework for exploring the benefits and risks of various therapies and interventions. This top-line reference includes the SHARE acronym and related “conversation starters” to facilitate SDM with patients. On the flip side of the document is a visual reminder of the team approach to ILD care, indicating roles and responsibilities of the various disciplines, that when working together, can lead to improved quality of care and patient outcomes.
One size does not fit all in ILD. To achieve the best quality of care and patient outcomes, clinicians need to assess key factors that impact each individual patient’s ability to access and adhere to recommended lifestyle and therapeutic interventions. Such factors — collectively known as “social determinants of health” include health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context, economic stability, and education aceess and quality. This clinician tool includes definitions and a questionnaire to facilitate patient interviewing about these important considerations.
Access additional clinical resources for treating and managing respiratory disorders.
Join Drs. Ana I. Velázquez Mañana and Gilberto de Lima Lopes, Jr. as they review recent data and discuss the impact of biases, disparities, and health inequities that reduce the quality of oncology care for underserved racial and ethnic underserved patients with lung cancer.