Discussion Post Using SOAP Format Treatment of COPD

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare: Treatment of COPD

Discussion Post Using SOAP Format

S: Subjective Information

The 89-year old male told his history of smoking two packs of cigarettes daily for 69 years. Although he quit smoking when he was 78 years old, this is only 11 years ago. The symptoms of difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath and belching, etc., are evident from his health review. The onset of these symptoms and their duration has not been mentioned since the information is missing. The character of health difficulties such as whistling sound in breathing, shortness of breath, etc., has been indicated.

O: Objective Information

The elderly person in the office for a general health checkup reported challenges with ‘belching.’ Otherwise, he stated he had no problems. Although he was on routine medications, however, when interviewed, he was asked about pursed-lip breathing during which, his whistling sound was evident. The reviews about cough revealed that morning coughs are prevalent and showed thick clear to white sputum. Shortness of breath comes more easily as compared to the previous years. The breath sounds are heard more course than before and diminish in the lower lobes together.

A: Assessment

The clinical impression inferred from the male’s condition is that he is currently suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The symptoms that took us to this diagnosis were frequent coughing, phlegm, shortness of breath, and finding it challenging to breathe deeply, for which pursed breathing technique is already in practice (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

P: Plan

The patient already follows pharmacologic intervention since he is on routine medications, which means he might be on COPD medications. However, for older adults, the most preferred medications for COPD management is inhaling devices, such as dry powder inhalers, pressurized metered-dose inhalers, and nebulizers (Taffet, Donohue & Altman, 2014)