Improving the long-term prognosis for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – ACRRM

After completing this module, participants will be better able to:

1. Recognise key risk factors for developing COPD
2. Identify patients with early COPD to enable optimal management of the condition
3. Describe the condition of mixed airways disease involving the overlap between COPD and asthma
4. Convey the clinical implications of COPD exacerbation, and the value of treatment aimed at reducing exacerbations.
5. Determine the most effective treatment algorithm for patients with COPD, including when to start maintenance therapy, and when to add in other treatments.
6. Recognise that the chronic and progressive nature of COPD requires long-term management with pharmacotherapies that have proven long-term efficacy in terms of FEV₁, safety, mortality, reduction in exacerbations and quality of life
7. Differentiate between pharmacotherapies currently available in Australia and their place in therapy and in the management of COPD