Information Needs in COPD After an Educational Programme: Influence in Exacerbations and Admissions

• Main Authors: Amado CA, Pérez-García C, Tamayo Fernández B, Agüero-Calvo J, Muñoz-Cacho P, Golpe R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-10-01
• Series: International Journal of COPD
• Subjects: copd; education; copd exacerbation
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/information-needs-in-copd-after-an-educational-programme-influence-in--peer-reviewed-article-COPD

Carlos Antonio Amado,1 Cecilia Pérez-García,2 Begoña Tamayo Fernández,3 Juan Agüero-Calvo,3 Pedro Muñoz-Cacho,4 Rafael Golpe5 1Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Servicio de Neumología, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain; 2Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain; 3Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Servicio de Neumología, Santander, Spain; 4Servicio Cántabro de Salud, Santander, Spain; 5Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Servicio de Neumología, Grupo C039 Biodiscovery HULA-USC, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santander, SpainCorrespondence: Carlos Antonio AmadoServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Avenida Valdecilla SN, Santander 39001, Cantabria, SpainEmail [e-mail]: Improving patients’ information needs (IN) may contribute to better control in COPD. This study analyses IN using Lung Information Needs Questionnaire (LINQ) following an educational intervention, evaluates how clinical characteristics modify IN, and studies high IN as a prognostic factor for COPD exacerbations and hospital admissions.Methods: Cohort of 143 patients with initial diagnosis of COPD included in a structured educational program. Two months after completing the program, IN was assessed using LINQ. Correlations between IN and clinical variables of COPD and distribution of IN in different clinical groups were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine influence of IN on exacerbations and COPD admissions over the following year.Results: LINQ scored 6.3± 2.9. There were no differences in LINQ scoring between different clinical groups, but LINQ score positively correlated with age (r=0.184, p=0.029). High IN was a predictor of COPD hospitalizations (HR 2.3 [95% CI 1.1– 5.1] (p=0.029)) but not of less severe exacerbations (p=0.334).Conclusion: IN was not associated with any clinical variables, but it correlated with age. High IN proved to be an independent predictor of admissions.Keywords: COPD, education, COPD exacerbation