The role of targeted training and “patient power” in promoting integrated evidence based care for COPD

Evidence based care for COPD involves patients obtaining timely access to an
integrated network of evidence based services delivered by staff with different skills working
across different settings. Patient needs for these different services can vary over time as the status
of their condition changes or they suffer sudden health crises. The primary care team (GPs and
practice nurses) have a key role as a provider of and referrer to care but their awareness and use
of evidence based care has been questioned [1]. This paper describes the nature and impacts of
an innovative training programme that aimed to improve the quality and integration of care by
increasing the primary care team’s awareness and use of needed services.