Open Access Research Article Allergy & Therapy Kvangarsnes et al., J Allergy Ther 2013, 4:6 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-6121.1000158 Volume 4 • Isse 6 • 1000158 J Allergy Ther ISSN:2155-6121 JAT an open access journal Keywords: COPD; Qualitative research; Compassionate care; Critical care; Nursing, acute care; Focus groups interviews; Collaborative practice Introduction About 65 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COPD is estimated to be the third cause of death worldwide by 2030 [1]. Sometimes patients with COPD experience an exacerbation. hese patients are vulnerable because they experience a life-threatening situation and are wholly dependent on health-care interventions to relieve breathlessness [2-5]. Exacerbation of COPD is treated worldwide with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) [6,7]. Gaps in patients’ desires for care at the end-of-life and what they actually receive are well documented (8). It has been previously reported that half of patients with COPD would elect not to be put on a ventilator if there were little hope of recovery [8,9]. Sørensen et al. [10] found that the following interrelated components facilitated successful NIV: patient adaptation to the treatment, efective ventilation and nurses’ attentiveness to patients’ perceptions of NIV. According to experienced nurses, it is important to be attentive and understanding when interacting with patients; to engage in calm communication with patients; to evaluate data on an ongoing basis; to provide encouragement, social support and immediate solutions to patients; to meet clinically the physical needs of patients; and to alleviate the discomfort of patients. One study found that ICU treatment is oten characterised by a low degree of patient power and patient participation [11]. Lomborg et al. [12] explored assisted body care in hospitalised patients with severe COPD. hey found that patients struggled for self-preservation in both symbolic and practical ways. A threefold strategy of coping with dependency, minimising the risk of escalating breathlessness and refusing to give up was used to manage assisted body care. Lomborg et al. [12] also found that patients’ key problems with assisted body care related not only to physical symptoms but also to a feeling of dependency. he establishment of good communication practices is fundamental in the provision of care to patients with COPD [13-15]. Gysels and Higgenson stated that diagnosis and prognosis need to be rethought in a model to suit the condition of COPD. hey emphasised taking a stepwise approach throughout the illness trajectory within a framework focused on surveillance. Other recommendations include taking a holistic and patient-centred approach to prognosis, recognising uncertainty and focusing on quality of life. Integrating diagnosis with prognosis as early as possible in communication with patients is also of importance [15]. Compassionate Care he need for compassionate care in modern health care has been discussed worldwide [16-23]. Compassion fatigue and burnout are frequently associated with intensive care nursing practice. Support for engagement in health promotional behaviours may be of help to nurses’ well-being in counteracting compassion fatigue and enhancing compassion [24]. he term compassion is deined in diferent ways. In this paper, we deine compassion as a strong awareness of or sensitivity *Corresponding author: Marit Kvangarsnes, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences Aalesund University College, Aalesund, Norway, Tel: +47 99400695; E-mail: mk@hials.no Received October 10, 2013; Accepted December 11, 2013; Published December 16, 2013 Citation: Kvangarsnes M, Torheim H, Hole T, Crawford P (2013) Nurses’ Perspectives on Compassionate Care for Patients with Exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Allergy Ther 4: 158. doi:10.4172/2155- 6121.1000158 Copyright: © 2013 Kvangarsnes M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract The aim of the study was to gain insight into intensive care nurses’ perspectives on compassionate care for patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients who experience acute exacerbation are vulnerable because they experience a life-threatening situation and are wholly dependent on health-care interventions to relieve breathlessness. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. Three focus group interviews with intensive-care nurses were conducted at two hospitals in western Norway in the autumn of 2009. One group had ive participants, and two groups had six participants each (N=17). A collaborative practice was regarded as essential to provide compassionate care in these situations. Three main themes emerged from the data: (a) preparing to care for breathlessness; (b) establishing a trusting relationship; (c) to approach each patient as a person with unique needs. These were experienced as important in rendering compassionate care for patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study showed that compassionate care involves interventions at different levels with particular attention to simple comforting care and technical adjustments. The study also showed a need for enhanced multidisciplinary cooperation in planning the subsequent clinical pathway. Nurses’ Perspectives on Compassionate Care for Patients with Exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Marit Kvangarsnes 1,2 *, Henny Torheim 1,2 , Torstein Hole 3,4 and Paul Crawford 5,6 1 Aalesund University College, Aalesund, Norway 2 Helse Møre og Romsdal, Norway 3 Medical Clinic, Helse Møre og Romsdal, Norway 4 Medical Faculty, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway 5 Professor of Health Humanities at the School of Health Sciences at The University of Nottingham, UK 6 Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Mental Health, UK