Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a bridge to the communities they serve and the health services needed by their clients/patients. Assisting in managing chronic condition care is a role of the CHW and is a part of PTI’s Community Health Worker Program.
One of the chronic conditions discussed in PTI’s Community Health Worker Program is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) COPD blocks airflow into the lungs and can cause long-term breathing problems due to inflammation inside the airways. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two most common types of COPD. Over sixteen million people in American have been diagnosed with COPD. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but it can be controlled with good management. Tobacco smoke is the key factor causing COPD, but air pollutants in the home and/or workplace, genetic factors, and other respiratory factors are additional causes.
Symptoms of COPD include:
- Shortness of breath
- Excess mucous, phlegm, and/or sputum
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Trouble taking a deep breath
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
There are many ways that COPD can affect the activities of daily living. These can include:
- Difficulty climbing stairs or walking
- Limiting the ability to engage in social activities due to symptoms
- Increase in confusion or memory loss
- Needing oxygen in and outside of the home
- Reducing the ability to work due to the disease process
- Increase in emergency room visits or hospitalizations
There are many things that a CHW can do to help their clients/patients with COPD. Eating healthy and getting physical activity are both important for all chronic conditions. A CHW can provide education and any needed lifestyle changes at home visits. As an example, quitting smoking is the most important thing someone can do to manage COPD. It would be important to discuss a client’s/patient’s readiness to quit, provide encouragement, education of the health risks associated with smoking, and help build self-efficacy in the ability to quit. A client/patient may need behavioral support, a support group, and/or medications and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. Think about what referrals could help manage the cost of quitting smoking and check for any health insurance benefits. Possibly contact the local health department for resources, looking into coupons or co-pay cards through pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies’ patient assistance programs, and other websites or apps to find free or low cost NRTs and to help with the cost of inhalers. All of these things may be overwhelming and cause confusion and anxiety to the client/patient. A CHW’s help can be priceless!
Completing a social determinants of health (SDOH) screening and assessment can give more information on the big picture of the client’s/patient’s health. The CHW can address the findings by looking into community resources to investigate and recommend, and then follow up with the client/patient to see if the need was met. SMART goals and actions plans work together to provide a framework to achieve any goals. Motivational interviewing techniques are a client/patient-centered counseling style for addressing behavior change. CHWs can also raise awareness in the community regarding the risk factors for COPD. All of these items and more are discussed in PTI’s Community Health Worker Program.
Professional development is also an important part of being a CHW. Think about what learning opportunities would benefit the CHW and their client/patient interactions. There is valuable information on the links below on COPD management, managing COPD at home, questions for the healthcare visit, and recognizing and preparing for emergencies that may help clients/patients.
The COPD Caregiver's Toolkit | NHLBI, NIH
During this COPD Awareness Month, take the time to learn more about COPD in order to support clients/patients, family members, and friends who are living with it.
Practice Transformation Institute (PTI) is an approved provider of CHW training by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS.) For more information on PTI’s Community Health Worker Program, please visit our website below.
https://transformcoach.org/learning-solutions/community-health-worker-chw-program/
