2. 2
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Two different diseases, but with some
overlap
Asthma
Usually in younger people
Not a progressive disease
Aim is complete control of symptoms
COPD
Usually in older people
Progressive
Aim is to reduce symptoms and slow progression
3. 3
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Asthma and COPD Care Pathways
The responsibilities of the PHC doctor
The responsibilities of the Nurse
Referral
4. PHC – GP
Diagnosis of Asthma
By history alone in most patients
Testing for reversibility(15-20%)
in patients where there is doubt
about the diagnosis (Use Peak
Flow meter)
Care Pathway – Asthma
Investigations
No routine investigations: no routine blood tests,
chest X-ray or allergy testing (unless clinically
indicated in selected patients)
Pulse oximeter desirable but not essential
Lifestyle Education:
every care provider
Focus on
behaviour
change –
smoking,
nutrition,
exercise, fasting
during Ramadan
(motivational
interview)
Specific
education about
Asthma &
complications
Tailored
education to
patient’s needs
Role of MoH &
Community
(social
campaigns,
leaflets, social
medias, support
groups, etc)
201
8
Test of reversibility
In clinic for
symptomatic
patients: peak
flow (PF) before &
after inhaled
Salbutamol
Trial of oral
steroids with
improvementof
chest symptoms
Patient records PF
at home (GP
responsible to
check patient’s
technique)
Treatment (Adults)
Use stepwise approach
Step 1:
intermittentuse
of short acting
Bronchodilators
(Salbutamol)
Preferablyusing a
spacer (can be
home made:
bottle or
availablein local
pharmacies)
Follow up: check
inhaler technique
Step 2: add standard
dose of inhaled steroids
Step 3: add long acting
beta2agonist
Step 4: increase inhaled
steroids to high dose
Step 5: refer – if referral
not possible, GP starts
oral steroids
Medical Management
Adults
Refer to Specialist
Using referral form
Medical Management
Children <5
years
Acute Asthma Management
Assessment of
severity
Treatment in PHC
1. Inhaled Salbutamol
using either a spacer
or nebulizer
2. Oxygen (if available)
3. Oral Prednisolone
(unless patient cannot
swallow)
Reassess & decide
whether to transfer
Search for
cause/trigger,
investigate & treat
infections (chest X-ray
only if clinically
indicated)
Continue oral steroids
for 5 days
Review patient,
consider stepping up
treatmentof chronic
asthma
PHC - Nurse
Awareness,Prevention &
Education (see below)
Patient education is
essential
Keeps disease register with
list of all Asthmatic patients
(Asthma Patients Register)
Responsibility to teach Peak
Flow (PF) monitoring&
inhaler technique to patient
Give asthma plan & PF
meter to each patient
(desirable)
Trial of treatment
using inhaled
Salbutamol with
inhaler & spacer
Children <2 years:
do not label as
asthma (keep
under review)
Remember post-
viral wheeze is
not asthma
Treatment (<5yrs)
Use stepwise approach
Step 1:
intermittentuse
of short acting
Bronchodilators
(Salbutamol)
Always using a
spacer (can be
home made:
bottle or
availablein local
pharmacies)
Follow up: check
inhaler technique
Step 2: add standard
dose of inhaled steroids
Step 3: refer – if referral
not possible, GP
increases dose of
inhaled steroids
5. PHC – GP
Diagnosis of COPD
By history & examinationalone in
most patients (typicalpositive
features & absence of important
symptoms of alternative
diagnosis)
Care Pathway – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD)
Investigations
Every patient must have: chest X-ray, CBC
Desirable to test for reversibilityin all newly
diagnosed cases (with Peak Flow meter)
If in doubt on diagnosis, refer for Spirometry
(desirable)
Lifestyle Education:
every care provider
Focus on
behaviour
change –
smoking,
nutrition,
exercise, fasting
during Ramadan
(motivational
interview)
Specific
education about
COPD &
complications
Tailored
education to
patient’s needs
Role of MoH &
Community
(social
campaigns,
leaflets, social
media, support
groups, etc)
2018
Treatment
Treatment to reduce symptoms
Step 1:
short acting inhaled Bronchodilators (Salbutamolor
Ipratropium),use one for one month, if not effective,
change to the other
Step 2:
long acting inhaled Bronchodilators (either long acting
Beta2agonist: Salmeterol/Formoterol OR long acting
antimuscarinic)OR use a combination with Steroids
Step 3: refer
Medical Management
Stop smoking at all steps (only measure
slowing disease progression!)
Annual Influenza vaccine,
Pneumococcalvaccine every 5 years (if
available)
Pulmonary rehabilitationby trained
nurse
Refer to Specialist
Using referral form
COPD Exacerbation
Management
Assessment of
severity
Treatment in PHC
Low dose Oxygen,
Beta2agonist by
inhaler or spacer,
antibiotics
Continue oral prednisolone
for 10 days
Considerneed for
chest X-ray, CBC
Reassess & decide
transfer or not
transfer
PHC – Trained Nurse
Responsible to deliver
pulmonary
rehabilitation
(physiotherapy
exercises)
Follow up
Every 6 months in early stages
Assess according to symptoms and increase
frequency as disease progresses
Palliative Care:
multiple care provider
Long-term home
Oxygen if possible
High Protein Diet
Home support:
Adaptation of
physical
environment
Provide support to
patient & family
Mental health
(depression)
Psychological
support (end of life
support with
appropriate
communication
skills)
Social services
involvement
6. 6
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How will patients with asthma
and COPD present?
For the first time with an acute exacerbation
For the first time with mild symptoms
On occasions when the diagnosis has not been
made during previous consultations
7. 7
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The responsibilities of the PHC doctor
Being alert to the different ways in which asthma and COPD can
present
Taking a good history, especially of symptoms in the past
Examining the patient to look for signs of asthma or of other diseases
Excluding other diagnoses
Using investigations as available and as necessary in order to assess
reversibility and to confirm diagnosis
Using a stepwise approach to treatment, in both adults and children
Giving appropriate health education messages, especially about
stopping smoking
8. 8
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The responsibilities of the PHC Doctor
( continued)
Helping patients to understand how to use inhalers and spacers
correctly
Managing exacerbations, and knowing when to refer patients with
severe exacerbations
Understanding the availability and cost of different inhalers to ensure
that patients are prescribed the least expensive medicines that are
available
Making appropriate referrals when patients are still symptomatic
despite stepwise treatment
Supervising the clinic nurse to ensure that they satisfy their
responsibilities
9. 9
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The responsibilities of the nurse
Maintaining a supply of health education materials
Keeping registers of patients with asthma and COPD
Teaching patients how to measure their peak flow and how to use
inhalers
Using motivational interviewing to help patients to stop smoking
Teaching patients simple breathing exercises ( pulmonary
physiotherapy)
Helping patients to make asthma plans
Knowing signs of serious exacerbations when detected during triage
10. 10
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Referrals
Urgent referrals- treat and stabilise the patient before sending. Use
referral form
Routine referrals. Use referral form. Write on the form WHY you are
referring the patient and WHAT you want the specialist to do
Who is going to deliver them?
How are they going to deliver them?