A Survey on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Action Plans at Visiting Nursing Stations in Gunma Prefecture

Abstract

Background & Aims: To clarify the background characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the introduction status of COPD action plans (AP) at visiting nursing stations (hereinafter stations) in Gunma Prefecture. Methods: We conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey by mail, targeting 187 stations. The managers at these stations answered the questionnaire regarding the status at the time of the survey. Results: Seventy-nine stations returned the questionnaires (return rate 42.2%); 45 stations (57.0%) had patients with COPD. All patients were over 65 years old； 80% of them required assistance. Twenty stations had patients with an AP. The contents of AP were different every stations. Patients with an AP had higher care practice scores compared to those without an AP on "providing inhalation instruction to patients receiving inhalants" and "teaching how to respond to exacerbations" (p＜0.05). The stations that had patients with COPD were associated with higher"number of full-time nursing stuff" (p＜0.01), higher"total number of users" (p＜0.01), and higher "charging additional medical fees for around-the-clock services" (p＜0.05). Conclusions: In order for patients with COPD to continue living in the community, it is necessary to prepare an AP that takes into consideration the patient' s characteristics individuality at the station.