Educating frontline health workers to support evidence-based management and treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A literature review

PROBLEM: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet frontline workers lack the capacity and education required to provide evidence-based management and support for COPD patients. PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to: (i) identify the respiratory education gaps within frontline health workers such as nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, and other allied health professionals, in the initiation of integrated care coordination, and (ii) outline organizational strategies to initiate integrated care coordination towards comprehensive evidence-based management and treatment for COPD patients. METHODS: A literature review representing articles published between 2011 and 2021 was conducted. The focus was examining the factors that are involved in educating frontline health workers to support evidence-based COPD management and identifying organizational strategies to provide this comprehensive care. The initial searches yielded 353 articles; 18 were retained for review. RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed two prominent themes as contributing factors to the challenges and strategic solutions: (i) the perceived challenges of frontline health worker respiratory education and (ii) the current deficits within organizational strategies, collaboration, resources, and educational interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Providing respiratory education to frontline health workers is imperative to optimize evidence-based care, patient support, and improve outcomes. The solutions include recognizing and focusing on identified contextual barriers, implementing/disseminating strategic solutions, and engaging specialty trained COPD certified respiratory educators as facilitators of COPD primary care.