Managing COPD: No more nihilism!

Job Van Der Palen*, Evelyn Monninkhof, Paul Van Der Valk, Adriaan Visser

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This special issue of Patient Education and Counseling is long overdue. During most of the last two decades asthma, and notably asthma self-management has been in the spotlight, while COPD has had to endure a nihilistic approach. The first sign that interest was shifting to the treatment of COPD came from a few large randomized trials on the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in COPD. Although these studies demonstrated a moderate effect of ICS in COPD, it has become clear that true improvements in the management of this chronic disease will have to come from behavioral interventions. This special issue of Patient Education and Counseling is dedicated solely to the non-pharmaceutical management of COPD. It addresses many issues related to behavioral therapy, such as smoking cessation, exercise training, nutritional aspects, and self-management programs, including action plans to self-treat exacerbations. With the availability of all the treatment and management options, described in this special issue, a nihilistic attitude toward the patient with COPD is no longer justified.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)221-223
Number of pages3
JournalPatient education and counseling
Volume52
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • COPD
  • Exercise training
  • Nutrition
  • Patient education
  • Self-management
  • Smoking cessation

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