Home Oxygen Therapy in Treating COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition that occurs in the lungs limiting the ability to breathe by constricting the airflow in the lungs. Individuals with COPD must breathe faster or harder in an effort to expel the air from the lungs. To treat the condition and improve a patient’s quality of life pulmonary rehabilitation is utilized. There are many different forms of pulmonary rehabilitation however the focus will be on home oxygen therapy. This form of therapy has been proven to be effective in improving the quality of life for patients with COPD.

Home oxygen therapy is provided through the use of oxygen systems that can be used in any place that has electrical current. Systems are also available that are portable and can be used in case of a power outage. Oxygen therapy has been demonstrated to have positive effects on the outcomes of patients who have COPD. “Oxygen therapy improves mortality and morbidity in hypoxemic patients with COPD. For best results, oxygen should be administered continuously” (Tiep, 1990 505). Although not all patients may require continuous oxygen therapy as some may only need it at night or for certain hours of the day. The oxygen therapy system is beneficial for patients for a number of reasons as it can significantly improve their life functioning.

The ability of the patient to be able to use the system at home offer quality improvement for their social and emotional functioning as they are no longer constricted to the hospital setting. “Hospitalizations can be reduced by the use of home oxygen therapy. This appears to be most likely in ambulatory patients receiving long-term oxygen from portable liquid systems” (Petty, 1990 715). These reduced hospitalizations can also be beneficial financially as they do not have to pay the high costs associated with hospital stays. Oxygen therapy can also increase their life expectancy as it can reduce the chances of contracting a condition, such as heart failure, that commonly arises with the diagnosis of COPD. Although there are a number of benefits to the use of home oxygen therapy, there are associated risks that patients must be aware of. These risks mainly involve the safety of using the machine within the home setting. As oxygen is combustible it is important to follow safety guidelines to ensure that the patient is safe while utilizing the machine. Despite these concerns, the home oxygen system could be a relief for many patients suffering from COPD.

As a nurse who works with patients with COPD education is a key component in ensuring that the patient is safely and effectively utilizing the system. The nurse must go over the safety guidelines of using an oxygen system in the home. The nurse must also go discuss the numerous health benefits of using COPD. Through discussing the health benefits such as improved sleep, mood and everyday functioning a patient would be more likely to follow the guidelines to utilizing the home oxygen therapy system. Finally the nurse must discuss the importance of maintaining other health practices such as ensuring they have enough sleep, adequate nutrition, and exercise. The patient must be aware that they cannot rely on the home oxygen system alone as a form of rehabilitation. Progress will occur with the use of the oxygen system in conjunction with improving these other areas of their life. A patient may begin to think that since they have the home oxygen system they do not need to focus on these other areas. Through a nurse stressing the importance of overall health a patient may be more inclined to follow the guidelines laid out by the nurse. Regular medical checkups both in the home and office to follow up on the use of the system and on overall health by the nurse would ensure that these steps are being followed. The doctor would then be able to chart some progress as a patient may begin to feel the positive effects on his life of the home oxygen system and lifestyle changes.

References

Petty, T. L. (1990). Home oxygen--a revolution in the care of advanced COPD. The Medical clinics of North America, 74(3), 715.

Tiep, B. L. (1990). Long-term home oxygen therapy. Clinics in chest medicine, 11(3), 505.