From LoveXAir We would like to start a section in which we will highlight recent publications that we consider of interest to people affected by respiratory diseases and their environment. We begin it with an article published by the author Lopez-Campos and collaborators in which they discuss the importance of Telephone support for COPD patients in times of COVID-19. Publications like this are of great importance, and we wanted to thank the visibility of this task, among other reasons because works like this help us visualize one of the foundation's projects this 2020, the CONCIENCIA support line.

Covid19 and the paradigm shift

We all know that the current situation has brought about a change in the organisation of many aspects, and this will be no less the case in the healthcare field. We must bear in mind that in our population there is a high percentage of chronic patients who need proper healthcare. In the case of chronic respiratory patients and following the philosophy and objective of avoiding contagion, it is very important that these patients do not abandon the confinement that is dictated when going to places where the possibility of contagion is very high. All this has led to the search for alternative forms of communication to care for patients without having direct face-to-face contact, such as video calls.

According to the authors, this allows health professionals to have a more objective perspective of the patient's condition in signs such as: respiratory frequency and pattern, mucocutaneous coloration, assessment of expectoration, checking inhalation technique, etc., and at the same time transmits a perception of closer and more personalized care.

Consultations with COPD patients, one of the groups most affected by the pandemic

This study has revealed certain peculiarities that must be taken into account in consultations with COPD patients (Telephone support for COPD patients):

  • The importance of the tone of voice is to convey calmness without diminishing the importance of what is being discussed.
  • We must mark the parts of the interview and guide the patient at each moment to obtain the information we need, allowing him to express himself freely.
  • Establish some rules and indicate that some questions need to be asked but that they will then have time to express what they feel is appropriate.
  • Allow the necessary time between questions and adapt it to each patient since not all of us assimilate the content in the same way.

How to inform?

In conclusion, we will use a reassuring tone, adapt the pace of the conversation and use plain language, ask specific and short questions and finally, we will close the conversation by summarizing the most relevant key points.

We are aware that this is a challenge for everyone, but we must face it with a proactive and participatory attitude, since only in this way will we achieve better monitoring and control of the disease.

En lovexair We make available to all those who need it at this time, the multi-channel support line #AWARENESS, using telephone, videoconferencing and other channels. In it, our respiratory physiotherapy team will answer all your questions about COVID19 and chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD, Alpha1, Asthma, etc. We want to offer information based on scientific evidence so that no one puts their health at risk, because being well informed is key to maintaining a good quality of life.

References:

Telephone support for COPD patients in times of COVID-19
Telephone Support for Copd Patients During COVID-19
Jose Luis Lopez-Campos, Myriam Calle, Borja G. Cosío, Cruz Gonzalez Villaescusa, Juan Luis Garcia Rivero, Alberto Fernandez Villar, Juan Jose Soler Catalonia, Bernardino Alcazar

Last updated on 2 October, 2020