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The COPD template is a software programme that when loaded onto the practice clinical system prompts GPs, and practice nurses to record detailed information, ensuring a well-structured COPD patient review. In the long-term, the GPIAG expects, through the GPIAG Research Unit at the University of Aberdeen to be able to analyse the information gathered via the template to allow a comparison of results from practice to practice to determine the real burden of COPD in primary care - a potentially vital data resource in the future.

The template covers all the areas related to the QOF 2006, but also prompts for an assessment of severity based on symptoms (the MRC dyspnoea score), exacerbation rates and BMI. Patients will also benefit from thorough, consistent assessments as the template encourages a holistic approach to the management of COPD by asking about depression and referral to pulmonary rehabilitation as well as the management of more severe disease by prompting for long term oxygen assessments and referrals where necessary.

"This is a really important tool for primary care to help manage the growing number of COPD patients, and the associated impact and burden of exacerbations, more efficiently and effectively", commented Dr Rupert Jones, GPIAG member and GPwSI in respiratory medicine. "COPD can often be a challenging condition to manage, especially as diagnosis often occurs late in the disease process. Bringing together all the necessary components required for an effective patient consultation into one simple resource, will make life easier for GPs and nurses in the long-term."

An estimated 1.5 million people in the UK have clinically relevant COPD¹, at an estimated cost to the NHS of more than £800million annually². Hospital admission due to exacerbations is one of the main factors for this staggering cost - the average length of stay is now more than 10 days per visit³. According to a recent audit by the Royal College of Physicians and British Thoracic Society, one in ten patients with COPD admitted to hospital is dead within 90 days, and over one in three are readmitted to hospital during that time⁴.

According to GPIAG member, Dr Daryl Freeman, "We know COPD is a significant burden on NHS resources and has a serious impact on a patient's quality of life. This template should give a more rigorous and structured approach to COPD patient consultations, ensuring that patients are getting the best possible care and our GPs are not excluding critical patient information."

Designed and written for a wide range of computer software programmes, the new GPIAG software is compatible with GPASS, TOREX (iSOFT), EMIS IV and VAMP VISION ensuring that it can be easily introduced into 'every day' use throughout the UK.

The GPIAG Research COPD template, for primary care is available free via email to templates@gpiag.org quoting COPD in the message header and your contact information in the message body.

The development of the GPIAG Research COPD template was supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline

References:

1. Devereux, G. ABC of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Definition, epidemiology, and risk factors. BMJ 2006; 332; 1142-1144.
2. Lung and Asthma Information Agency. Trends in emergency hospital admissions for lung disease. Factsheet 2001/4.
3. Department of Health. Hospital Episode Statistics 2000/2001.
4. Report of the 2003 National COPD audit. The Royal College of Physicians and the British Thoracic Society. September 2004.