The asthma/COPD nurses' experience of educating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care

Abstract

The number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing. These patients need nursing care, including education in self-care, which has a positive effect on their physical and psychoemotional well-being. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of asthma/COPD nurses' in primary health care (PHC) of educating patients with COPD. A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted, with interviews of 12 asthma/COPD nurses. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings are presented in two themes: Theme 1, receiving support results in a feeling of security, which enables the development of patient education; and Theme 2, a lack of support results in a feeling of insecurity, which makes it difficult to develop patient education. The asthma/COPD nurses were individual orientated with individualization of care, but the patient's mood, the varying support of those around and the nurses' varying degrees of security affected the education. The conclusion is that the asthma/COPD nurses' experience of patient education fluctuated between insecurity and security. The nurses' feeling of insecurity in their patient education can be strengthened through support from colleagues and by increased knowledge in promoting the learning of others. Collaborative teamwork with a well-functioning asthma/COPD clinic in PHC can facilitate and improve patient services; these initiatives can enable the asthma/COPD nurses to reach their full potential.