Improving Communication with Your Health Care Team
This article was written by Jonnie Korinko, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS.
People with COPD can improve their health by taking an active role in managing their care.1 Remember to tell your health care provider about any new symptoms or medication side effects. This will help you work together to create the best treatment plan for you. Starting treatment early can lower symptoms and the risk of a flare-up.2 Two out of every five people with COPD do not tell their health care providers about all their symptoms. This can increase the risk of COPD flare-ups and hospitalization.3
Lisa Hall is a woman living with COPD. "If I had better communication with (my provider), I don't think I'd be having so many flare-ups," said Lisa. "...if they would communicate better or listen to me, I could be on a different medication, perhaps..."
Don't wait to get treatment for COPD symptoms, as they may get worse.2. Talking to your health care provider can help determine why your symptoms are happening.
Communication Barriers Many People Face
Patient-Related Barriers
People with COPD have many reasons for not talking with their health care providers about their condition. Some of these include
- Differences in culture, gender, or age between the provider and the patient.
- Feeling uncomfortable with a new provider.
- Stress or pain at the time of the appointment.
- Distraction by other people attending the appointment.
Health Care Provider Barriers
The way a medical office and health care provider behave can also make it harder for people to communicate openly.4 Some of these include:
- Using medical terms or complicated language.
- Spending less time on an appointment.
- Not knowing what's happening with the patient.
- Not asking questions or listening to the patient.
- Not having a personal connection.
Ways to Improve Communication
There are ways that people with COPD can improve communication with their health care team.
- Be Open About Symptoms
Tell your health care provider if your symptoms change. Even small changes in coughing, mucus, and tiredness are important.
- Get Ready for Your Appointment
Keep track of your symptoms every day with your My COPD Action Plan. Write down any questions for your provider before your appointment so that you remember them.
- Know Your Treatment Plan
Ask questions about why your health care provider orders certain medications. Be sure to ask about any side effects. Keep track of your drugs and vaccines on a wallet card. This will help you be ready to answer questions about your health. Ask about the next steps if your symptoms do not get better with the treatment that you're getting.
- Do Not Wait for Regular Appointments
If your symptoms get worse, reach out to your health care team right away. They can help you act before a flare-up becomes severe.
Tools to Improve Communication
- The COPD Foundation Podcast: In our most recent episode, a nurse practitioner and someone living with COPD talk about the importance of communication in COPD care. They share tips on how to improve communication between COPD patients and health care providers to help prevent symptoms from getting worse.
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality QuestionBuilder App: This tool can help you get ready for medical appointments and come up with questions to ask your provider.
Being open with your provider can help you act on your symptoms before they get severe. When COPD symptoms are treated early, there is less chance of flare-ups.
- Marzban S, Najafi M, Agolli A, Ashrafi E. Impact of Patient Engagement on Healthcare Quality: A Scoping Review. J Patient Exp. 2022;9:23743735221125439. Published 2022 Sep 16. doi:10.1177/23743735221125439
- Locke ER, Young JP, Battaglia C, et al. Care-seeking and delay of care during COPD exacerbations [published correction appears inNPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2022 Apr 24;32(1):16. doi: 10.1038/s41533-022-00279-7]. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2022;32(1):7. Published 2022 Feb 15. doi:10.1038/s41533-022-00269-9
- Wilkinson TM, Donaldson GC, Hurst JR, Seemungal TA, Wedzicha JA. Early therapy improves outcomes of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;169(12):1298-1303. doi:10.1164/rccm.200310-1443OC
- Norouzinia R, Aghabarari M, Shiri M, Karimi M, Samami E. Communication Barriers Perceived by Nurses and Patients. Glob J Health Sci. 2015;8(6):65-74. Published 2015 Sep 28. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v8n6p65
- QuestionBuilder App. Content last reviewed June 2022. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/question-builder/index.html