Nursing care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation : Case study
Abstract
Abstract
The objective of this case study was to investigate the care process for a critically ill chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient with acute exacerbation at Prathai Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The case study patient, a 67-year-old male, was diagnosed with severe COPD exacerbation. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, observations, and content analysis.
The findings revealed that the patient had severe COPD exacerbation due to significant airway obstruction, attributed to long-term smoking for 30 years, persistent smoking during COPD exacerbation, respiratory tract infection with purulent sputum, and inadequate symptom assessment and management. Additionally, the community hospital lacked long-acting bronchodilators. The essential nursing principles in three phases included: 1) initial respiratory assessment, 2) oxygen therapy to achieve adequate oxygenation, and 3) collaboration and patient referral for continuous care. Outpatient nurses played a crucial role in providing immediate nursing care to prevent respiratory failure from the severity of the disease. Rapid assessment of oxygen tissue perfusion was necessary, requiring both theoretical and practical nursing knowledge to provide accurate, detailed, and disease-specific care, ensuring effective care and preventing life-threatening complications, thus enabling safe and appropriate patient self-care and reducing the recurrence of acute exacerbations.
The findings of this study provide recommendations for nurses to enhance their skills and knowledge in assessing and caring for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprehensively. The recommendations include providing guidance on appropriate self-care practices during illness, emphasizing smoking cessation, and fostering family involvement in continuous patient care to ensure high-quality nursing and favorable patient outcomes.
Keywords : Case study, Nursing care, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Acute exacerbation.
