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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Outpatient on Demand Clinic

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: Control
Behavioral: on demand clinic
Registration Number
NCT00556816
Lead Sponsor
Isala
Brief Summary

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a chronic disease which is increasing. Patients with COPD are the most important concern of the pulmonologists. At the outpatient clinic has been observed that the amount of new and regular COPD patients is of such a size that it seems to overwhelm the capacity of the outpatient clinic. Solutions could be substitution of medical care, longer intervals between the appointments or discharge from secondary medical care to primary care. The first point does not solve the lack of capacity, the second point is not allowed because it will decrease quality of care and transition of care is a temporary solution. COPD is a complex disease, whereby, and certainly in an advanced stadium, multidisciplinary and qualified expertise is needed.

The optimal control frequency of patients with COPD is unknown. COPD is a disease with fluctuating activity and complaints over time. There is a chance that patients are seen at a stable state at the regular outpatient clinical visits instead of moments when medical care is obligated. The regular management of the outpatient clinic will therefore result in an ineffective treatment of COPD patients. In this way general practitioners and even patients could suggest that visits to the outpatient pulmonary clinic are confounding less to a good treatment of COPD.

Outpatient clinical care on demand, initiated by patients in other chronic patient groups like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, are proven to be safe and effective leading to less consumption and costs of medical care in comparison to standard outpatient clinical visits 2-5.

The outpatient clinical care on demand for COPD is not figured out yet. Our aim is to investigate whether this special type of outpatient clinical care is effective in the management of COPD.

Detailed Description

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a chronic disease with an increasing prevalence in the next years. There has been calculated that between 1994 and 2015 COPD will increase for men and women with 43% and 142%. This will be caused by ageing of the population and the tendency towards more smoking women 1.

Patients with COPD are the most important concern of the pulmonologists. At the outpatient clinic, it has been observed that the amount of new and regular COPD patients is of such a size that it seems to overwhelm the capacity of the outpatient clinic. Solutions could be substitution of medical care (specialist replacement by nurse practitioner), longer intervals between the appointments, or discharge from secondary medical care to primary care. The first point doesn't solve the lack of capacity, the second point is not allowed because it will decrease quality of care, and transition of care is a temporary solution. COPD is a complex disease, whereby, and certainly in an advanced stadium, multidisciplinary and qualified expertise is needed.

The optimal control frequency of patients with COPD is unknown. COPD is a disease with fluctuating activity and complaints over time. There is a chance that patients are seen at a stable state at the regular outpatient clinical visits instead of moments when medical care is obligated. The regular management of the outpatient clinic will therefore result in an ineffective treatment of COPD patients. In this way, general practitioners and even patients could suggest that visits to the outpatient pulmonary clinic are confounding less to a good treatment of COPD.

Outpatient clinical care on demand, initiated by patients in other chronic patient groups like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, are proven to be safe and effective leading to less consumption and costs of medical care in comparison to standard outpatient clinical visits 2-5.

The outpatient clinical care on demand for COPD is not figured out yet. The investigators' aim is to investigate whether this special type of outpatient clinical care is effective in the management of COPD

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • COPD patients at least GOLD II (FEV1 < 70%, FEV1/VC ratio < 70%)
  • age > 40 years
  • smoking history > 10 pack years
  • informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • significant or instable comorbidity
  • a history of asthma
  • drug or alcohol abuse
  • incapacity to fill in questionnaires

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional outpatient clinicControlConventional outpatient clinic
On demand outpatient clinicon demand clinicOn demand outpatient clinic
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
change in health status (CCQ)2 years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
quality of life (SGRQ and SF-36)2 years
the number of appointments with the pulmonary nurse/ nurse practitioner2 years
use of medical care (visits to GP, ER, outpatient clinic)2 years

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Isala Klinieken

🇳🇱

Zwolle, Netherlands

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