Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Smoking Cessation Interventions Understanding COPD and Its Challenges: Nurs fpx 4025 assessment 3

NURS-FPX4025 Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and frequent lung infections. Without proper management, COPD can worsen over time, leading to frequent hospitalizations, heart complications, and even respiratory failure. One of the most effective ways to slow disease progression is smoking cessation. However, quitting smoking remains challenging due to nicotine addiction, stress, and lack of support (American Lung Association [ALA], 2024).

Certain populations experience greater difficulty managing COPD. Older adults, low-income individuals, and those with limited healthcare access struggle more with obtaining necessary treatments (Alupo et al., 2024). Many patients cannot afford inhalers, oxygen therapy, or regular doctor visits, leading to deteriorating health and increased hospital admissions. Additionally, geographical barriers prevent some patients from accessing timely medical care, further exacerbating their condition. Providing structured smoking cessation support and ensuring access to healthcare can help reduce these risks (Wang et al., 2024). Nurses play a vital role in educating and assisting COPD patients, ensuring they receive adequate support for smoking cessation and disease management.

Research Question and PICO(T) Framework

A well-defined research question is essential in determining the most effective interventions for smoking cessation in COPD patients (Gosak et al., 2024). Using the PICO(T) framework, the research question for this study is: In adult patients diagnosed with COPD (P), how does a structured smoking cessation program incorporating behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy (I) compared to standard smoking cessation counseling (C) affect smoking cessation rates and pulmonary function (O) within six months (T)?

Breakdown of PICO(T) Criteria: Nurs fpx 4025 assessment 3

• Population (P): Adult patients diagnosed with COPD. This group is selected because smoking is a major contributor to COPD progression, making cessation a primary treatment goal.
• Intervention (I): A structured smoking cessation program involving behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, or bupropion. Studies suggest that multi-component cessation programs yield better results than single interventions (Fu et al., 2022).
• Comparison (C): Standard smoking cessation counseling, typically consisting of brief physician advice or informational materials.
• Outcome (O): Improved smoking cessation rates and better pulmonary function.
• Time (T): Six months, as research indicates that maintaining abstinence for this period significantly predicts long-term cessation success (Hu et al., 2021).