Improvement of COPD management in Georgia

7^th International Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Conference

October 22-23, 2018 | Rome, Italy

Irine Pkhakadze

Akaki Tsereteli State University, Georgia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pulm Respir Med

Abstract :

Statement of the Problem: Several local and systemic factors create obstacles to international COPD management standards in Georgia. Specifically, poor access to diagnostic tests and individual chronic care medications, lack of doctorsâ?? knowledge and skills of internal and external assessment systems of medical care quality, necessity for improvement of patient awareness and self-management skills. USAID Health Care Improvement Project and Assist Project implemented in 2012â??2014 in Georgia improved the management of COPD. The intervention took place in 13 village ambulatories, four polyclinics and four hospitals. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: To compare results of USAID Healthcare Improvement Project and Assist Project, we collected all charts with COPD diagnosis out of the eight village ambulatories and two hospitals involved in the project and controlled facilities commencing from Marchâ??16 till Mayâ??17. Simultaneously, together with the medical chart review, we conducted interviews with patients and doctors specialized in COPD diagnosis and management. Thus, information was accumulated by means of standardized questionnaires from different sources: provider, patient, manager interview, chart review and key input assessment checklists. Findings: Based on the monitoring results of COPD quality improvement interventions, it became obvious that after 19 months of the project interventions, the disease diagnostic and management has improved significantly in regional ambulatories as well as in hospitals. Particularly, the chart review has shown that average compliance to COPD management best practice from baseline 20% has increased on average by 57% at ambulatory level and by 58% at hospital level, and reached 77% and 78%, respectively. Conclusion & Significance: The usage of non-evidence-based medications for COPD treatment decreased from 96.15% to 15%. Patient interviews have shown significant improvement in the patient awareness and evidence of rational medication treatment. Recommendations are made for expanding the applied practice in all medical care institutions in Georgia.

Biography :

Irine Pkhakadze, Md, Phd, Associate Professor, Dean of the faculty of Medicine, since 1997. She has experience as a Pediatrician in Kutaisi National Medical Centre; from 2009-present she is a member of Georgian Respiratory Association. She Participated in Grant Projects Biomedical Engineering Education Tempus Initiative in Eastern Neighboring Area and Project Number: 543904 -Tempus-1-2013-1 Gr-Tempus-Jpcr (2013-4512/001-001). Establishment Of The Supra- Regional Network Of The National Centers In Medical Education, Focused On Pbl And Virtual Patient, Epblnet, Tempus-Jpcr (30519-Tempus-1-2012-1-Uk)

E-mail: Irine.Pkhakadze@Atsu.Edu.Ge