COPD Treatment Initiative for Patients With Lung Cancer
Posted: Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Canadian investigators have reported improvement in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with lung cancer with the use of a quality improvement initiative. Geneviève C. Digby, MD, MSC, and Andrew Robinson, MD, FRCPC, of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, reported their study findings in a recent issue of the Journal of Oncology Practice.
They implemented change by using a define/measure/analyze/improve/control (DMAIC) improvement cycle. Data on 477 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer were obtained by chart review of the Cancer Care Ontario database; this information included patient characteristics, pulmonary function test results, and bronchodilator therapies.
Improvement cycle 1 consisted of prioritizing COPD management by respirologists in the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program. Improvement cycle 2 consisted of physician restructuring and developing a standard work protocol. A total of 166 patients were included in cycle 1 and 127 patients, in cycle 2.
Drs. Digby and Robinson reported that the number of respirology-managed patients with airflow obstruction receiving inhaled bronchodilators increased in both cycle groups. And, by cycle 2, those with airflow obstruction were more likely to receive long-acting bronchodilators if managed by respirologists.
