Service implications from a comparison of the evidence on the effectiveness and a survey of provision in England and Wales of COPD specialist nurse services in the community.

Study Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth leading cause of mortality worldwide and is a burden on healthcare resources. Therefore, implementing the right care model(s) for patients with COPD is a priority. Nurses, particularly those with specialist roles, are often the principal health professionals involved in new service models.

New Services: for patients in the community with COPD are increasing in many countries. Two main types of initiatives have been evaluated; those designed to transfer acute care out of hospital and into the community, and those offering chronic disease management. The extent and nature of such specialist services in the UK and internationally are unknown.

Objectives: To present the results of the first survey of specialist nurse service provision for patients in the community with COPD in England and Wales. To combine the survey findings with systematic review evidence to explore to what extent provision is supported by evidence of effectiveness.

Methods: A postal survey of respiratory healthcare professionals undertaken concurrently with a review of the evidence of the effectiveness of nurse COPD services (review findings are reported fully elsewhere).

Results: Two hundred and thirty four specialist nurse services were identified; 71% involved chronic disease management, of which 47% also provided acute care. Seventeen per cent of services involved acute care only. The review identified evidence to support the provision of acute services but data on chronic disease management services are sparse and there is currently little evidence to support these services. Those interventions that have been evaluated to date differed from many of the services provided.

Conclusions: This study identifies a considerable mismatch between existing evidence around effectiveness and services provision for patients with COPD. It clearly highlights the need for greater interaction between what happens in practice and research. This is an issue that has relevance across all healthcare practice, both nationally and internationally.