Improving dyspnea management in three adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This case report describes occupational therapy intervention for three adult outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at one large urban hospital. The occupational therapy intervention was based on the Management of Dyspnea Guidelines for Practice (Migliore, in press). The learning and practice of controlled breathing were promoted in the context of physical activity exertion in a domiciliary environment. In addition to promoting dyspnea management, the controlled-breathing strategies aimed to facilitate energy conservation and to increase perceived breathing control. Although no causality can be determined in a case study design, the patients' dyspnea with activity exertion decreased and their functional status and quality of life increased following goal-directed, individualized occupational therapy intervention combined with exercise training.
Migliore
Anna
A
Occupational Therapy Program, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Box 81, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA. amigliore@downstate.edu
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role