Implementation of Interprofessional Training to Improve Uptake of Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients Hospitalized With Severe COPD Exacerbation

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US, and COPD exacerbations result in approximately 700,000 hospitalizations annually. Patients who do not respond to pharmacotherapy are placed on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV). Although IMV reverses hypercapnia/hypoxia, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality. NIV is an alternative ventilatory option for acute respiratory failure that provides positive pressure ventilation via a mask. Multiple randomized controlled trials and analyses of real-world data have shown that patients treated with NIV are less likely to require IMV, and have lower mortality and length of hospital stay. NIV is recommended in COPD guidelines as the first-line treatment for patients with severe exacerbation who have failed pharmacologic treatment. Yet, despite compelling evidence of benefit, we have previously demonstrated substantial variation in the implementation of NIV across hospitals, leading to preventable morbidity and mortality.

Through a series of mixed-methods studies, we have found that successful implementation of NIV requires physicians, respiratory therapists (RTs), and nurses to communicate and collaborate effectively to select appropriate patients for treatment, and to carefully manage patients after NIV initiation. These studies suggest that efforts to increase the use of NIV in COPD need to account for the complex and interdisciplinary nature of NIV delivery and the need for team coordination. The main goal of this project is to determine the impact of interprofessional educational (IPE) strategies in 20 hospitals with low NIV use in COPD by conducting non-randomized open cohort step wedge trial. The IPE will target complex team-based care in NIV delivery. The primary outcome of the trial is change in the hospital rate of NIV use among patients with COPD requiring ventilatory support. The central hypothesis is that IPE will lead to improvement in the uptake of NIV, and that RT autonomy and team functionality will act as mediators. The goal will be accomplished by completing three specific aims. Aim 1 will compare the change in NIV use over time among patients with COPD in hospitals enrolled by comparing their NIV rates from before the IPE training, to after the training. Aim 2 will explore mediators' role (RT autonomy and team functionality) on the relationship between the implementation strategies and implementation effectiveness. In Aim 3, we will assess the acceptability and feasibility of the educational training through interviews with providers. This proposal is significant because NIV is the only therapy that has been shown to improve short-term survival for patients hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD, yet a large number of hospitals still have not adopted this approach fully.