Improvement in COPD Elderly Patients Health: Study Protocol

Checklist Based Method for Improvement of COPD Care in Elderly in General Practice: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Using Electronic Health Records

Guidelines development, their implementation and the physicians' adherence may have an impact on the occurrence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations and patient's quality of life. We have developed an educational program based on a checklist to assist general practitioners in managing COPD patients. The results of this trial based on electronic health records from BIG DATA databases, such as the electronic health record (EHR) of patients from the National Health Found, associated with checklist, will be directly applicable to primary care in Poland and add new data to the growing body of evidence on interventions to improve chronic illness care and patient's quality of life.

This study is the three-arm cluster controlled randomized trial (CRT) with the patients nested within practices. The effectiveness of Checklist in reduction of COPD exacerbations health outcomes in COPD patients after 2 interventions will be evaluated and compared to that of usual care. The results of this trial will be directly applicable to primary care in Poland and add new data to the growing body of evidence on interventions to improve chronic illness care.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients: aged 65 years and older with diagnosis of COPD registered as J-44 (ICD-10).
2. Centres: Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) with at least 46 COPD patients listed.

Exclusion Criteria:

None