Evaluation of the effectiveness of hospital discharge planning and follow-up in the primary care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of protocolised intervention for hospital discharge and follow-up in the primary care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality internationally.

Design: A quasi-experimental design was adopted, with a control group and it was pseudorandomised by services.

[A descriptive study of the socio-demographic and clinical profile of the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To find out the socio-demographic and clinical profile of the patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): characteristics, state of health, situation of disease and social resources.

Method: A descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study, in the Morales Meseguer and Reina Sofía Hospitals in Murcia (Spain), was performed between June 2007 and April 2008. The inclusion criteria was hospital admission due to COPD and patients with cognitive deterioration, a hospital stay > 30 days or < 2 days, or were institutionalised, were excluded.

Effectiveness of planning hospital discharge and follow-up in primary care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: research protocol.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a protocolized intervention for hospital discharge and follow-up planning for primary care patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality internationally. These patients suffer from high rates of exacerbation and hospital readmission due to active problems at the time of hospital discharge.