Dyspnea Patient Experience I Improving Dyspnea management for COPD patients and their caregivers

Dyspnea is the symptom of breathlessness that affects most patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It is the way in which patients experience their COPD on a daily basis. Many live in fear of a dyspnea crisis that may lead to hospitalisation; additional cost for the health system and impacting clinical outcomes. 

The unique framing of this project to understand the Patient Experience of Dyspnea, and not COPD specifically, revealed new insights about life with Dyspnea and new service, product and technology opportunities to improve the quality of life and care of COPD patients. Solutions and strategies were systemic and included toolkits for both professionals to better diagnose and manage Dyspnea, as well as for Care Pairs (i.e. patients and caregivers) to develop the necessary skills and confidence to better self-case to avoid and manage Dyspnea crises in their daily life with COPD.

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Client: Philips Respironics

Partner: HCB