Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Identify a variety of environmental exposures that may predispose individuals to developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
2. Inform about COPD features, including pathophysiology, presentation, risk factors, lung function trajectories, exacerbations, and comorbidities.
3. Outline spirometry considerations regarding COPD, including its process, utility, application, and cautions.
4. Provide an explanation of COPD symptom assessment, including GOLD ABE recommendations and how they are integrated with treatment.
5. List pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to COPD treatment.
6. Emphasize the importance of smoking cessation in COPD management. ?
7. Discuss smoking cessation strategies and pharmacotherapy.
8. Detail bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids in COPD treatment.
9. Apply guidelines for initial and follow-up COPD management.
10. Highlight the importance of reviewing medication use at each patient visit (dose, inhaler technique, adherence, accessibility, adverse effects).
11. Describe the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD management.
12. Spotlight the role of oxygen and ventilatory support in COPD management.
13. Name recommended vaccines for patients with COPD and their importance.
14. Review less-common therapies for COPD that may be considered.
15. Anticipate and address challenges of COPD management.
16. Provide COPD self-management patient education (risk reduction, lifestyle, medication use, other treatments, breathing exercises, and action plan).
17. Devise patient tactics for reducing risk and exposure to COPD irritants and aggravating factors.
18. Explain the management of COPD exacerbations, including assessment, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antibiotics, respiratory support, transitions of care, and hospital discharge follow-up.
19. Speak on the significance of hospital readmission prevention of COPD exacerbations.
20. Key in on benefits of COPD advance care planning and palliative support.
21. Mention treatment options in patients with severe/advanced COPD.
22. Touch on treatment approaches of future research interest.
23. Address comorbidities which may overlap or influence COPD progression.

Faculty: Jennifer Kim, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CPP
The CE faculty, reviewers and planning committee members have all reported no relationships with ineligible companies in relation to this program.