Self-management is considered by current COPD guidelines to be an essential component in the management of the condition and is recommended with the highest level of evidence. Indeed, in some studies, collaborative self-management has been shown to reduce admissions by almost 40%. Evidence shows that when quality interventions are offered, self-management education results in an improvement in adherence to therapy, and in most cases, COPD outcomes.
Patients with access to myCOPD can enter their symptoms and CAT scores, perfect their inhaler technique, and upload spirometry and lung function images. If you care for patients in the community, you can then monitor this information remotely, and understand how the patient is managing their condition and how engaged they are with the platform. You can then contact the patient via the one-way messaging tool, to encourage them to book an appointment with their GP if you feel this is required.