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BackgroundSelf-management education for cardiopulmonary diseases is primarily provided through time-limited, face-to-face programs, with access limited to a small percentage of patients. Telecommunication tools will increasingly be an important component of future health care delivery. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of technology use in patients attending a cardiopulmonary clinic in an academic medical center. MethodsA prevalence survey was developed to collect data on participant demographics (age in years, sex, and socioeconomic status); access to computers, Internet, and mobile phones; and use of current online health support sites or programs. Surveys were offered by reception staff to all patients attending the outpatient clinic. ResultsA total of 123 surveys were collected between March and April 2014. Technological devices were a pervasive part of everyday life with respondents engaged in regular computer (102/123, 82.9%), mobile telephone (115/117, 98.3%), and Internet (104/121, 86.0%) use. Emailing (101/121, 83.4%), researching and reading news articles (93/121, 76.9%), social media (71/121, 58.7%), and day-to-day activities (65/121, 53.7%) were the most common telecommunication activities. The majority of respondents reported that access to health support programs and assistance through the Internet (82/111, 73.9%) would be of use, with benefits reported as better understanding of health information (16/111, 22.5%), avoidance of difficult travel requirements and time-consuming face-to-face appointments (13/111, 18.3%), convenient and easily accessible help and information (12/111, 16.9%), and access to peer support and sharing (9/111, 12.7%). The majority of patients did not have concerns over participating in the online environment (87/111, 78.4%); the few concerns noted related to privacy and security (10/15), information accuracy (2/15), and computer literacy and access (2/15). ConclusionsChronic disease burden and long-term self-management tasks provide a compelling argument for accessible and convenient avenues to obtaining ongoing treatment and peer support. Online access to health support programs and assistance was reported as useful and perceived as providing convenient, timely, and easily accessible health support and information. Distance from the health care facility and a lack of information provision through traditional health sources were both barriers and enablers to telehealth. This is particularly important in the context of a cardiopulmonary clinic that attracts patients from a large geographical area, and in patients who are most likely to have high health care utilization needs in the future. Telecommunication interfaces will be an increasingly important adjunct to traditional forms of health care delivery.

Introduction: Dementias a prevalent chronic healthcare condition affecting 46 million people worldwide and projected to grow in the coming years. Australians living in rural and regional areas often lack access to specialist dementia care, despite greater prevalence relative to metropolitan areas. Objective: This study aimed to explore general practitioners (GP) understanding, confidence and attitudes towards dementia management in the rural context, and design and pilot a dementia‐specific training program. Design: A two‐stage, mixed methods design, using qualitative and quantitative methods. Sixteen regional GPs from across Victoria participated in scoping semi‐structured interviews. Fourteen separate GPs in the St Anthony Family Medical Practice group in the regional Loddon–Mallee area of Victoria completed the pilot training intervention. Pre‐ and post‐training surveys (n = 10), as well as post‐training interviews (n = 10), assessed attitude and knowledge changes. Findings: Analysis of semi‐structured scoping interviews indicated three themes regarding experience of dementia management, including: (1) attitudes to and experiences of dementia; (2) supporting people living with dementia; and (3) knowledge, education and training of dementia. The pilot dementia‐specific training was found to improve attitudes (agreement across 24 best‐practice indicators improved from 30% to 79%), knowledge (median increase of 2.5/10) and confidence in managing dementia and disclosing dementia diagnoses (median increase 3/10 and 2.75/10, respectively). Discussion: General practitioners in this study lacked initial confidence in detecting and managing dementia in a rural primary care setting. A targeted training program showed improvements in these areas. Conclusion: Accessible, locally delivered, dementia education has the potential to improve confidence in early detection and management of people with dementia and thereby may address gaps in access to care for people living with dementia in rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, life-limiting condition. End-of-life (EOL) and Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussions are essential, yet access and support remain inadequate. Allied health professionals (AHPs) commonly have ongoing relationships with patients and opportunities to discuss care outside acute crises as is considered best practice. Australian and New Zealand AHPs were invited to complete an anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey that aimed to explore knowledge, attitudes and practices, and associated perceived triggers and barriers to EOL and ACP discussions with patients with COPD. Closed survey responses were summarized descriptively and free-text thematically analysed. One hundred and one AHPs (physiotherapists, social workers and occupational therapists) participated. Many held positive attitudes towards ACP but lacked procedural knowledge. Half (50%) of participants routinely discussed EOL care with patients when perceiving this to be appropriate but only 21% actually discussed ACP with the majority of their patients. Many cited lack of training to engage in sensitive EOL discussions, with barriers including: 1) clinician lack of confidence/fear of distressing patients (75%); 2) perceived patient and family reluctance (51%); 3) organizational challenges (28%); and 4) lack of role clarity (39%). AHPs commonly have ongoing relationships with patients with chronic conditions but lack the confidence and role clarity to utilise this position to engage ongoing EOL and ACP discussions. While AHPs may not traditionally consider EOL and ACP discussions as part of their role, it is crucial that they feel prepared to respond if patients broach the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, life-limiting illness that requires end-of-life care planning, yet remains under-served. Understanding barriers to advance care planning (ACP) from different specialties' perspectives will enable a co-ordinated, cross-disciplinary approach to improving ACP access. Methods: Australia and New Zealand palliative care nurses were invited to complete an anonymous online cross-sectional survey. Questions tested knowledge of validated ACP-related practice indicators and canvassed perspectives on barriers to ACP in COPD. Data are described and free-text thematically analyzed. Results: The 90 participants had high knowledge and positive attitudes to ACP in COPD, however, lacked consensus as to whether patients want to know their prognosis or discuss treatment options and end-of-life wishes. 59% discussed ACP in more than half their patients with COPD, and 77% and 73% routinely initiated or followed-up these discussions. Key barriers included: lack of confidence and training in COPD; reluctance to distress patients and families; referral late in the disease course; lack of consensus on referral timing; and lack of patient and clinician understanding of COPD prognoses. Many reported that lack of consensus in the treating team, paired with prognostic uncertainty, precluded timely ACP engagement. Conclusions: Palliative care nurses have substantial knowledge and positive beliefs regarding ACP, however, some beliefs and practices lack alignment with qualitative data on patients' wishes in COPD. While palliative care nurses are well placed to facilitate early implementation for patients with advanced COPD, ACP training and practice guidelines specific to COPD may increase implementation in this life-limiting disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent (61%) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). International guidelines recommend providing self-management education through resource-intensive, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, yet screening for deficits likely to interfere with learning have received insufficient attention. Concerns over cognitive testing as confronting are described by health professionals as a barrier to screening, but with minimal empiric data. This study explored views on cognitive impairment and screening in patients with COPD. Design: Qualitative study, focus groups. Methods: Participants with COPD were recruited from a respiratory service at a regional hospital. Conversations were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Focus groups were undertaken between February and May 2014. Fifteen patients, with a diagnosis of COPD and mean age of 73, participated. Thematic analysis resulted in four overall themes: (1) limited awareness of the connection between cognitive change and COPD; (2) cognitive change as part of normal ageing; (3) current strategies for self-management activities and cognition functioning; and (4) attitudes to cognitive testing. Conclusions: This study identified that participants were open to discussing issues of cognitive function suggesting that normalizing discussion around cognitive change presents an opportunity to introduce screening within routine assessments. Identifying cognitive impairment provides opportunity to tailor rehabilitation for those at risk of sub-optimal self-management. Changes in cognition are recognized as a barrier to optimal self-management and rehabilitation efficacy in chronic disease. This study identified that participants were open to discussing issues of cognitive function suggesting that normalizing discussion around cognitive change presents an opportunity to introduce screening within routine assessments. Identifying cognitive impairment provides opportunity to tailor rehabilitation for those at risk of sub-optimal self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]