Case Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Question 1: Common symptoms associated with a (COPD).

Exacerbations of exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a situation that depicts in patients with serious lung inflammation and presents with the worsening of patient symptoms from ordinary inspiratory problems from a stable state and so acute from the onset. Common COPD symptoms include:

A fast and a shallow breath similar to the one somebody experiences after a vigorous activity.

Experiencing a short breath at rest or at a minimal physical activity such as climbing stairs.

Chronic coughing.

Feelings of fatigue and sleep.

Increased mucus production which is many a time yellow, tan or tinged.

Wheezing when breathing.

(Source: Demarco, 2015)

Question 2: Assessment techniques I would use to assess Mary

Since Mary has revealed signs and symptoms of COPD, I would use the Davis, 2015 proposed 5 Lung Function Questionnaire COPD test. I would first give Mary the questionnaire to fill. The questions would major on ascertaining information on 5 things; Marys age, her smoking history and if she has had any smoking-related problems in the past, the presence of wheezing in her breathing and if she is producing any phlegm. Then I would inquire if her above symptoms have yielded to a condition where at times Mary is performing poorly at her activities of Daily Living (ADLs). If it happens that Marys score in the 5 Question Questionnaire is more than 3, then I would now treat her as a candidate who has a high probability of testing positive for a COPD exacerbation.

As she fills her questions, I would observe he physically also and see if she has the signs of chronic tobacco smoking.

Then I would recommend her for a Spirometer test.

Question 3: Smoking strategies that would be appropriate to assist Mary in quitting smoking

At first, I would ask if Mary is aware of the health hazards she inflicts on her own body and the life of her granddaughter. Then I would warn her if she does not quit her smoking habits, its going to worsen her condition and she will eventually die. Now that she has already disclosed that she does not want to die, this would scare her enough to stop smoking and the love for her granddaughter.

I would also enquire how much Mary is spending on a packet that she has said she smokes at least 20 cigarettes a day. Definitely, it must be very expensive in the long run and reflecting on how this is an expensive avoidable budget would dissuade her from smoking.

Then I would confirm to her that I will talk with her family and let them give her all the emotional support that she would need to quit smoking.

Then I would hand her some few publications to help her in her quitting experience and recommend a dosage for her that would aid in a short-lived cessation period.

Question 4

A resource in your community that could assist Mary

I would recommend the New South Wales (NSW) site for Mary. This is an Australian based agency that is committed to helping smokers quit their smoking as it harms them. I know of people who have used it in the past from my state and have fully benefitted.

What services are available to Mary?

Mary will get a free call back from NSW officials who will from time to time provide guidance on what she should do to stop smoking, a quit kit is also available that will be sent via a mail or a printed document, then she will have a culture tailored respondent who may help her and her family members will also get an advice on how to live well with Mary and help her as she transcends the quit journey.

Briefly describe the services that the state quitline provides.

Follow-up calls: They are deemed to ensure that a smoking victim is putting every advice into place to successfully pull through her quitting.

Aboriginal cultural services: Tailored for international victims who may belong to a unique cultural setting from language to norms.

Family support and guiding: NSW advice a victims family on how to stand with their patient in the quitting experience.

Does it meet the 4 As (accessible, acceptable, affordable, or available) for Mary?

NSW is accessible to Mary online, she can get in touch with the NSW staff or through the help of her daughter where she can mail or call the 137848 free number (accessible), then it is acceptable and highly recommended after over 88% of the patients who used it stopped smoking, it is affordable because calls are free and no need to travel to the NSW premises; a patient can be attended right from home with every package delivered and the overall quit help charge is affordable and negotiable according to NSW latest on their website (affordable). Then help is available all through the day and night (accessible 24/7).

Question 5: Follow up for Marys Cessation

I would from time to time call to see if she is meeting any difficulties in stopping smoking, then I would also enquire from her family members on how she is faring until she completely stops smoking (Demarco, 2015; Davis, 2015).

References

Davis, K. J., Landis, S. H., Oh, Y. M., Mannino, D. M., Han, M. K., van der Molen, T., ... & Muellerova, H. (2015). Continuing to Confront COPD International Physician Survey: physician knowledge and application of COPD management guidelines in 12 countries. International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 10, 39.

De Marco, R., Marcon, A., Rossi, A., Anto, J. M., Cerveri, I., Gislason, T., ... & Leynaert, B. (2015). Asthma, COPD and overlap syndrome: a longitudinal study in young European adults. European Respiratory Journal, ERJ-00086.