Patient Education - Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Respiratory Health

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Patient education

An important part of pulmonary rehabilitation is learning how to take an active role in managing your illness. Patient education can be conducted in small groups or on an individual basis, depending on the resources of the rehabilitation program and the needs of individual patients.

One of the most important topics in patient education is how to use medication and oxygen therapy correctly. A nurse or a respiratory therapist can discuss the types of medications and their side effects. If you are using an inhaler, you should have received training from your doctor or a nurse in the doctor's office. But during rehabilitation, a nurse or therapist may review the procedure to ensure that you're doing it correctly. If you are using oxygen therapy, you will get some tips on how to use it to greatest benefit.

Patient education is a wide umbrella that encompasses many other topics, including the breathing strategies discussed earlier, how to recognize an exacerbation, and when to call for assistance, which is very important for reducing the need for hospitalizations. Patient education may also cover ways to avoid environmental substances that can irritate your airways, practical advice for traveling, nutrition guidance, and psychosocial and behavioral counseling. Some rehabilitation programs also include advice on end-of-life planning.

Last updated:	May 23, 2007