Abstract
Background:
How can COPD patients be more empowered and become more proactive in maintaining their COPD treatment/medication compliance, reduce 30-day readmissions and help improve quality of life by avoiding hospitalization due to COPD exacerbations? Can pre-discharge COPD education led by a respiratory therapist (RT) help reduce 30-day readmission rates? We hypothesized 1) that with one-on-one COPD education, provided by RTs, there will not be a significant change in 30-day readmission rates, and 2) there will be no significant difference between three RT educators and the effect on 30-day readmission rates among COPD patients.
Methods:
IRB approval was received (CPS18-03-09). This is a retrospective study of patients who received COPD education from October 2016 to September 2017. Three RTs performed pre-discharge COPD education on a total of 927 patients. For each patient educated, the patient's electronic chart in Meditech and COPD assessment spreadsheet were evaluated for inclusion. Demographics, smoking history, completion of post-discharge follow-up phone call and readmission rates 60 days prior and 60 days post COPD education was collected. Data was listed under the educating RT, for included subjects. A three-way ANOVA with a post hoc Tukey's HSD and Bonferroni test was used to compare the three RT educators. A t-test was performed for the pooled data, from all three RT educators, for pre- and post-education readmission rates. An alpha of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
Of the 927 patients educated 593 where included in the study. Table 1 provides overall pre- and post-Results: and Table 2 compares the three educating RTs. Therefore, rejecting the first hypothesis. However, when comparing each COPD RT educator there was no significant difference between them and the second hypothesis was accepted.
Conclusions:
Patients who received pre-discharge COPD education provided by a RT demonstrated an increase in 30-day readmission rates. Further research is needed on this subject, including how a more thorough follow-up post discharge can affect readmission rates.
*Mean(SD) View all access options for this article.RT Educator 30-day Readmission Comparison
Therapist An=228
Therapist Bn=238
Therapist Cn=127
Readmissions:No Education
.20(.402)
.15(.359)
.22(.416)
Readmission:With Education
.31(.462)
.21(.411)
.30(.460)
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