Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4025 Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making
Prof. Name
Date
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes tiredness, coughing, and mucus. These symptoms often stop people from doing simple daily activities. Over time, the disease gets worse. Many people with COPD end up in the hospital during flare-ups. Some of these flare-ups can be deadly (Jones et al., 2022). The goal of this assessment is to explore better care for people with COPD. The focus is on non-drug treatments like quitting smoking, using oxygen, and doing gentle exercise. These steps are easy to use and can be done at home or with help from healthcare workers. The aim is to reduce flare-ups, keep people out of the hospital, and help them feel better in everyday life. This assessment uses simple, trusted research to support safe and effective care choices for COPD.
COPD is a long-term lung disease. It makes it hard for people to breathe. Over time, the disease gets worse. People with COPD often feel short of breath, tired, and have coughs with mucus. These symptoms stop them from doing normal daily tasks. There are many risks with COPD. The most serious one is a flare-up. This is when symptoms suddenly get worse. A flare-up can lead to a hospital visit. It can even cause death. People who smoke, live in polluted areas, or have poor health habits are at higher risk. They may have more flare-ups. They may also stay in the hospital longer and recover more slowly. COPD caused about 3.5 million deaths in 2021 worldwide. Most deaths in people suffering from COPD occur under the age of 70 (World Health Organization (WHO), 2024).
COPD can lead to serious complications. The most common ones include heart problems, weak bones, and muscle loss. Some people with COPD also feel depressed because of their health. If COPD is not managed well, it can make other health problems worse. People with COPD are also more likely to get infections like pneumonia. Outcomes depend on how well the person follows their treatment. Non-drug treatments, like quitting smoking, using oxygen, and breathing exercises, help improve life. These can lower flare-ups and make breathing easier (Zysman et al., 2025). Support from nurses, family, and education also helps people take better care of themselves. Simple changes, like eating better and staying active, also help. Thus, COPD is a serious illness. It brings many risks and problems. But with good care and support, people can live better and longer.
A research question was created using the PICO(T) process to find better ways to care for people with COPD. The goal was to reduce flare-ups and help people live better lives. The question is: In adults aged 18 and older with COPD, does the use of non-pharmacological interventions (such as smoking cessation, oxygen therapy, or hydrotherapy), compared to standard pharmacological treatment alone, lower exacerbation frequency and improve quality of life over six months? Each part of the PICO(T) process is included in this question. The Population (P) is adults with COPD. The Intervention (I) is using non-drug treatments. The Comparison (C) is drug treatment alone. The Outcome (O) is fewer flare-ups and better quality of life. The Time (T) is six months.
This question was based on a common problem. Many people with COPD go to the hospital again and again. Some do not have access to doctors or cannot afford medicines. These people need care that they can use at home or in the community. Iglesias et al. (2023) show that non-drug treatments like smoking support, breathing help, and patient education improve health. People feel better and stay out of the hospital. This PICO(T) question helps nurses and healthcare teams choose the right care. It also supports patients who cannot take or afford medicines. By focusing on simple and helpful actions, this question gives real answers that improve care and help people with COPD live fuller lives.
The trusted medical databases were used for finding evidences for COPD. These include PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register, Web of Science, PEDro, and Scopus to find the most useful studies. The main keywords included “COPD,” “non-pharmacological treatment,” “oxygen therapy,” “pulmonary rehab,” “smoking cessation,” “hydrotherapy,” “chronic pain,” and “quality of life.” These words helped narrow the search to studies that focus on safe and helpful ways to care for people with COPD. The chosen studies are written by experts, meet credibility standards, and give strong support for non-drug treatments for COPD.
The study by Zysman et al. (2025), published in ScienceDirect and is credible and relevant to COPD care. It focuses on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological ways to improve survival in patients with COPD. The authors are experienced doctors and researchers from top hospitals in France, and the article follows CRAAP criteria; its information is current, accurate, and clearly written for a medical audience. This narrative review shows that long-term oxygen therapy (at least 15 hours per day) helps patients with severe low oxygen levels live longer. It also reports that stopping smoking lowers the risk of death by 32% to 84%.
Treatment compliance reduced 3-year mortality from 20.2% to 11.3% when patients followed their care plan over 80% of the time. Pulmonary rehab soon after hospital discharge helped lower the 1-year death risk, and good nutrition support also showed strong survival outcomes. This article supports the PICOT question by showing that non-drug treatments, like smoking cessation, oxygen therapy, and rehab, can reduce flare-ups and improve life quality in COPD patients. The study proves that these care options are effective and safe, especially when used alongside medical treatment.
Iglesias et al. (2023) from the journal Sensors. The study is recent, published in 2023, and meets the CRAAP criteria; its content is current, relevant, written by experts, accurate, and has a clear purpose. The study looked at people with COPD and tested the benefits of water-based exercise. The authors used tools like the PEDro scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool to check the quality. The results showed that water-based exercise helped improve functional ability in COPD patients. The improvement score was SMD: 73.42 (95% CI: 40.40 to 106.45), showing a clear benefit compared to people who did not exercise. However, there was no big difference between water-based and land-based exercises. This study connects well with the PICOT question. It supports the use of a non-drug intervention, hydrotherapy, to improve life quality for adults with COPD.
Jones et al. (2022) in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. It meets all parts of the CRAAP test. The study is current, written by experts from Monash University and other top institutions, and provides accurate, relevant information. It focuses on adults with stable COPD. The study describes a plan for a network meta-analysis that will compare different non-drug treatments. These include supervised exercise, education, breathing techniques, and self-care plans. The aim is to find which parts of these treatments work best to stop hospital admissions.
The study explains that COPD is a serious disease, and many people with it are often readmitted to the hospital. Some had a 64% readmission rate, and 26% died within one year after hospital discharge. This study is closely linked to the PICOT question. It looks at adults with COPD, studies non-drug treatments, and compares them to regular care. Its goal is to prevent flare-ups and improve life. It supports the use of non-drug care options, showing they help people live better and avoid hospitals.
Morris et al. (2023), written in the Respiratory Medicine journal, meet the CRAAP criteria. The content is current, accurate, written by experienced researchers, and focuses on a real issue in COPD care. The authors reviewed 95,302 studies and selected 29 that met their criteria. These included 3,228 people with COPD. Seven of the interventions showed a small but meaningful difference in pain outcomes. Only two studies showed statistically strong results (p < 0.05). One other study showed a statistical change (p = 0.0273), but it was not meaningful in real life. This study shows that pain is a real and often ignored problem in COPD. Most treatments tested were not strong enough to manage pain well. The study fits the PICOT question by looking at non-drug care for COPD. It highlights the need for better pain-focused care that improves life quality. The research also calls for clearer reporting in future studies to find what truly works.
The studies reviewed give a clear answer to the PICOT question. They help nurses understand the effects of non-drug treatments for adults with COPD. Each study focused on people aged 18 and older with confirmed COPD, which fits the Population part of the question. The interventions included oxygen therapy, hydrotherapy, smoking cessation, and nurse-led education. These match the Intervention element.
For Comparison, all studies looked at these methods against standard drug treatments alone or no treatment at all. The results showed that adding non-pharmacological care improved outcomes. For example, Iglesias et al. (2023) found that hydro exercise improved physical function with a score of SMD: 73.42 (95% CI: 40.40 to 106.45). Zysman et al. (2025) showed lower death rates when patients used oxygen for more than 15 hours per day. These studies showed effective interventions for COPD.
For Outcome, all studies reported better quality of life, better daily activity, fewer flare-ups, or lower hospital use. Jones et al. (2022) also showed that supervised rehab and education help reduce hospital stays, especially in stable patients. Morris et al. (2023) added that pain is often untreated, and non-drug care could help with that, too. These studies focus on short follow-up times, mostly around 6 months, matching the Time part of the question. Together, the evidence supports using non-drug treatments with usual care to improve life and reduce problems for people with COPD.
People with COPD need simple, clear care steps to feel better and live longer. First, stopping smoking is one of the most important steps. Studies show this lowers the chance of death and reduces flare-ups. Second, using oxygen for at least 15 hours each day helps people with low oxygen levels. This makes breathing easier and supports longer life (Zysman et al., 2025). Third, regular exercise is helpful. Water-based exercises and walking improve strength and allow people to move better. Fourth, breathing exercises and lung training make daily activities easier. They also reduce the risk of hospital visits. Eating healthy food and staying active are also key. These improve the body’s strength and help people manage their symptoms better. Nurses and health teams can teach patients about their condition.
Education gives people the confidence to care for themselves. Support from nurses, family, and friends also helps people stay on track with their care plan. Pulmonary rehab programs right after leaving the hospital lower the chance of returning. These programs include exercise, breathing help, and coaching (American Lung Association (ALA), 2022). All of these steps can help people have fewer symptoms, fewer hospital stays, and better days. Even when people cannot take medicines, these steps can still help. Each part of care works better when used together. This makes it easier for people with COPD to live full and healthy lives, with fewer problems and less worry. These are the best steps to take based on strong evidence.
COPD is a serious illness, but people can feel better with the right care. Quitting smoking, using oxygen, and staying active are important steps. Support from nurses and family helps people follow their care plan. Simple breathing and exercise programs improve strength and reduce flare-ups. Education also helps people understand their illness and care for themselves better. With good support and easy care, life with COPD can be managed in a better way.
American Lung Association (ALA). (2022). Breathing exercises | American Lung Association. Www.lung.org. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/breathing-exercises
Iglesias, M. J. B., Pérez, P. R., Martínez, M. Á. V., Luengo, A. V. G., & Liria, R. L. (2023). Effectiveness of water-based exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sensors, 23(20), 8557. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23208557
Jones, A. W., McKenzie, J. E., Osadnik, C. R., Stovold, E., Cox, N. S., Burge, A. T., Lahham, A., Lee, J. Y., Hoffman, M., & Holland, A. E. (2022). Non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention of hospitalisations in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Component network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2022(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd015153
Morris, J. R., Harrison, S. L., Robinson, J., Martin, D., & Avery, L. (2023). Non-pharmacological and non-invasive interventions for chronic pain in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review without meta-analysis. Respiratory Medicine, 107191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107191
World Health Organization (WHO). (2024, November 6). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)
Zysman, M., Mahay, G., Guibert, N., Barnig, C., Leroy, S., & Guilleminault, L. (2025). Impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on mortality in 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sciencedirect.com. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S2590041223000478
