Course Overview

This two-day Introduction to COPD course is designed for nurses and healthcare professionals working in Primary Care who are new to COPD management or have not undertaken formal respiratory training.

Led by an experienced Respiratory Specialist clinician, the programme provides a structured foundation in the assessment, diagnosis and management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) within Primary Care settings.

Teaching is aligned with NICE NG115 and the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) strategy, ensuring participants develop evidence-based, guideline-informed practice. The course supports clinicians in understanding COPD pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, inhaled therapies, structured annual reviews, and exacerbation prevention.

The emphasis throughout is on early identification, holistic management, and safe long-term care in the community.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for:

- Practice Nurses
- Nurse Associates
- Advanced Clinical Practitioners
- General Practitioners
- Primary Care Pharmacists
- Clinicians new to COPD management

No prior advanced respiratory training is required.

What This Course Covers

Day One – Foundations of COPD Care

- Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
- Pathophysiology of COPD
- Differentiating COPD from asthma
- Importance of smoking history and pack-year calculation
- Overview of spirometry interpretation
- Diagnostic criteria and confirmation
- NICE NG115 and GOLD guideline overview
- Inhaler classes (LABA, LAMA, ICS combinations)
- Inhaler device types and technique
- Non-pharmacological management:
- Smoking cessation
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Vaccination
- Lifestyle advice
- Introduction to self-management planning

Day Two – Monitoring, Reviews and Exacerbation Management

- Structured COPD annual reviews
- Monitoring symptoms and exacerbation frequency
- Use of review templates and documentation
- Assessing breathlessness and functional limitation
- Escalation of inhaled therapy
- Identifying frequent exacerbators
- Managing acute exacerbations in Primary Care
- Safety-netting and follow-up
- Advanced care planning and palliative considerations
- When to refer to secondary care

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

- Describe the pathophysiology of COPD
- Differentiate COPD from asthma
- Understand the principles of spirometry interpretation
- Apply NICE and GOLD guidance in clinical decision-making
- Select and optimise inhaler therapy appropriately
- Conduct structured COPD reviews
- Identify and manage exacerbations safely
- Recognise when referral is required
- Support self-management and holistic care planning

Course Format

Duration: Two full days

Delivery: Virtual or face-to-face

Format includes:

- Structured teaching
- Case-based discussion
- Practical inhaler device review
- Clinical scenario analysis
- Interactive discussion

Participants are encouraged to consolidate learning within supervised practice following completion.

Certification

Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.