Acute exacerbation of COPD: Physiotherapy practice and factors that influence management.

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Physiotherapy practice and factors that influence management of patients with AECOPD are unknown.
Objectives: To explore physiotherapy practice in the management of patients with AECOPD in South African private healthcare settings and to identify and describe factors that influence physiotherapy patient management.
Method: The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to identify physiotherapists working in private healthcare in three South African provinces. Individual interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was done using an inductive approach.
Results: Participants ( n = 9) working in private hospitals reported that their management is based on patient-specific needs assessment. Treatment interventions included various respiratory physiotherapy techniques and exercise rehabilitation strategies. Patient education on self-management of disease symptoms featured prominently. Enablers of physiotherapy management included supportive workplace relations, conducive work environment, physiotherapists' competence, familial support and patient cooperation. Barriers identified included limited communication, nurses' attitudes, work environment, disease burden, mental health challenges and limited professional development opportunities.
Conclusion: Physiotherapists provide individual needs-based care to patients with AECOPD. Various enablers and barriers to physiotherapy patient management have been identified.
Clinical Implications: Advocacy for physiotherapy, better communication between multidisciplinary team members and recognition of the need for psychological support are important factors to address to enhance the care provided to patients with AECOPD.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article. The author, H.v.A., serves as an editorial board member of this journal. The peer review process for this submission was handled independently, and the author had no involvement in the editorial decision-making process for this manuscript. The authors have no other competing interests to declare.
(© 2024. The Authors.)