General practice
Clinical Resources
Lung Foundation Australia has developed a range of clinical resources that support general practice in the diagnosis and management of COPD.
The COPD-X Plan is the Australian and New Zealand online management guidelines for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It has been developed jointly by The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Lung Foundation. It is written as a decision support aid primarily for general practitioners and other primary health care clinicians managing people with established COPD. It is regularly updated as new evidence is published.
Stepwise Management of Stable COPD
One page, stepwise guide to pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions according to level of severity of disease.
The COPDX Action Plan should be completed by the clinician and patient together. It guides the patient in recognising when their condition changes and what action they should take.
Primary Care Respiratory Toolkit
Lung Foundation Australia’s Primary Care Respiratory Toolkit supports the promotion of lung health as well as the early diagnosis and best practice treatment of lung disease. Evidence shows that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-managed. The Primary Care Respiratory Toolkit has been developed to redress this.
COPD Online: A Training Program for Primary Care Nurses
Learn about COPD, identify patients with COPD, manage patients with COPD and develop self-management plans with patients.
Quitting smoking at any age is beneficial
This graph developed by Fletcher and Peto*, show the gradual loss of lung function in a never smoker compared to the more rapid loss of lung function in a smoker. It also shows that by quitting smoking at any age the rate of lung function lost reverts to that of a non-smoker and results in years of life gained. Reinforce the message that it is never too late to quit.
* Fletcher, C. and R. Peto, The natural history of chronic airflow obstruction. Br Med J, 1977. 1(6077): p. 1645-8.
The main aim of targeted COPD case-finding with a COPD screening device is to identify those at risk of COPD and avoid unnecessary spirometry in those with normal lung function.
This DL flyer outlines a simple checklist of COPD symptoms. This has been designed to be displayed in surgery waiting rooms and can be ordered from Lung Foundation Australia. All those who can say yes to three symptoms are asked to speak to their doctor about their lung health.
This poster can be ordered for display in your surgery. It encourages your patients to be aware of symptoms of COPD and to ask for a lung function test if they are worried about their lung health.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Factsheet
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive program for people living with chronic lung disease who have symptoms of breathlessness and often have a decreased ability to perform the activities of daily life. Programs are individually tailored and designed to optimise physical and social wellbeing. The structure and delivery of each program is different and depends upon local resources.
Exercise & Lung Disease Fact Sheet
People who have chronic lung conditions are often less active and can lose their fitness and muscle strength. By exercising regularly, a person’s fitness and muscle strength can be maintained or improved.
Medical Benefit Schedule (MBS) item numbers for COPD
These flow charts summarise how the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers can be utilised to the benefit of the patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This includes a description of the role that practice nurses can undertake to assist in the management of the patient
