125858 - Step Up: Exacerbation Prevention in COPD
This educational program provides an update on strategies to reduce
the risk of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD.
Dispensing data suggest potential issues with the quality use of medicines for airways disease. A national cross sectional survey of 91 Australian GPs participating in the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) program provided data for 2589 patients (288 asthma; 135 COPD). GPs classified COPD as mild for 42.9%. Most patients with COPD (60.9%) were prescribed combination ICS therapy and 36.7% were prescribed triple therapy. There were substantial differences between guideline-based and GP- recorded assessment and prescription for asthma and COPD.
Learning outcomes