Being told you or someone you love has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can be a very overwhelming experience. The good news is, there’s now a quick, simple way to help you understand which parts of your COPD care are going well and where there might be gaps in your care plan. The new online My COPD Checklist asks simple questions about your current COPD care and treatment.
“The My COPD Checklist is a simple yet comprehensive tool that I offer to all of my patients living with COPD. It can help reduce the overwhelm of knowing where to begin, in the form of a checklist. This covers all the essential elements of managing COPD in accordance with evidence-based guidelines,” said Lung Foundation Australia Respiratory Nurse, Rebecca Corbett.
“It can help people who are living with COPD feel more informed about key areas,” she adds.
It’s important to note, that each person experiences this lung condition differently. In the early stages of diagnosis, some people may not experience much impact on their life. Others may need more help to be independent, particularly during an exacerbation (flare-up of symptoms).
“The My COPD Checklist asks simple questions about your current COPD care. For example, whether you have a COPD Action Plan to help you manage your COPD and flare-ups. And whether your GP, nurse or pharmacist have checked how you use your inhaler (medicines you breathe in) in the past 12 months,” says Rebecca.
“This new resource is designed for people living with COPD and their carers. It can be an incredibly helpful, collaborative tool that involves the individual and their doctor. By working through each, an individual can also identify prompts that would be helpful to discuss with their doctor.”
What does the checklist do?
The My COPD checklist is a template to be completed by you in conjunction with your GP or specialist to outline your plan for self-management. The checklist covers topics including:
- Action plans
- Vaccinations
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Exercise
- Quit Smoking
- Emotional wellbeing
- Diagnosis
- Access to information
After completing the My COPD Checklist, you will receive a personalised report with actions to make improvements. Furthermore, a list of questions will be provided to help start a conversation with your GP, nurse or specialist about your COPD care.
Taking control of your COPD starts with knowing what actions to take—and the checklist is the first step towards living better with COPD. The My COPD Checklist, useful tool for anyone living with COPD is available on our website or by scanning the QR code.