A patient-centred model of care incorporating a palliative approach: A framework to meet the needs of people with advanced COPD?

Background: Current models of care for people with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been demonstrated to be inadequate, particularly in areas such as advance care planning, symptom control and psychosocial and spiritual care. Aim: This paper aims to explore how a model of patient-centred care can incorporate a palliative approach to form a practical and useful framework for care that meets the needs of people with advanced COPD. Discussion: There is increasing recognition of the need to provide active disease management at the same time as supportive care for people with chronic disease. A palliative approach can incorporate these two care imperatives but a number of barriers often make implementation problematic. A patient-centred care approach can help to address these barriers and is increasingly being seen as an appropriate framework for all healthcare service provision. Significant changes are required to health systems and service provision for this model of care to be implemented; specialist palliative care services can take a leading role in change management. Conclusion: Patient-centred care provides an appropriate framework for the development of a model of care for advanced COPD. It allows for a need-based approach to service provision, rather than the current prognosis-based system and brings patient and carer needs and concerns to the forefront of care. Refereed/Peer-reviewed