Health care needs in end-stage COPD: a structured literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To give an overview of relevant literature regarding health care needs in end-stage COPD and to identify specific areas where knowledge about needs is still lacking.


METHODS
We conducted a structured literature review. We used Bradshaw's classification system.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven publications were found. Ten publications were included in the review. The results reported cover a wide range of subjects, all regarded as health care needs. Most reported on 'felt need', i.e. needs that are mentioned by patients themselves. Results on 'normative need' (based on expert judgement) were lacking.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature about the health care needs of patients in the end-stage of COPD is sparse, and there is no commonly accepted definition of health care needs. Looking at the increasing demand for end of life care for COPD patients, there is a clear need for further research on this subject.


CONCLUSIONS
We especially need to focus on agreement between experts and professionals so that guidelines can be developed. To attend to the unfulfilled needs of end-stage COPD patients, the delivery of health care should be re-examined carefully.
Habraken
Jolanda M
JM
Academic Medical Center, Department of General Practice, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.m.habraken@amc.uva.nl
Willems
Dick L
DL
de Kort
Susanne J
SJ
Bindels
Patrick J E
PJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D032921:Consensus; D003625:Data Collection; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom