Nurse Tele-Consultations With Discharged COPD Patients Reduce the Numbers of Readmissions
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive focused on measuring pervasive healthcare, telecare, telemedicine, COPD
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Exacerbation in COPD with dyspnea, cough
- Need for medical treatment
- Age above 40 years
- Above 10 pack years
- The ability to use a phone
Exclusion Criteria:
- Communication problems
- Respiratory acidosis
- No other severe medical disease as cancer, sepsis, shock, pneumonia
Sites / Locations
- Medical Department, OUH Svendborg Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
1 Telemonitor
Control group
Within 24 hours after the patient was discharged the telemedicine equipment was installed at the patient's home. The patients were included for four weeks followed by a visit to the outpatient clinic with a doctor. The patient was planned to have the equipment for approximately one week and had at least one follow-up phone call within the four weeks period. Telemonitoring video conferences could be made from 8 AM to 3 PM every day. The patient could call the telemedicine department in the same period of time (hot-line).
No tele-monitor at home. The COPD patients discharged after an acute exacerbation living outside Svendborg or Faaborg-Midtfyn municipalities in the recruiting area were included in the control group and assigned to conventional care.