Monday, October 27, 2014

Summary Of The Global GOLD Strategy

By Young Lindsay


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a global problem whose intervention has been increased through regular reporting since 2001. The global GOLD strategy was developed to streamline efforts aimed at diagnosis, management and prevention of this disease. Several reports have been released since the initiative was launched. The latest is that of 2014 which makes several considerations.

A new approach is sort in management as contained in the 2014 reports. The reports are generated after evaluating feedback by researchers and professionals spread in different regions across the globe. The general consensus is that a paradigm shift is needed in treatment to support the approach adopted in management. Balancing the two aspects requires a deeper understanding of individual cases.

The issues that have been assessed until the report was released include the level of symptoms for the patient, the risk of exacerbation in future, how severe the spirometric abnormality is and the identification of comorbidities. The report targets health care professionals who are directly involved in care for affected patients. It takes to account the structure of health care service delivery in an area.

The design of the quadrant management tool is based on a clinical setting. The symptoms of each patient are recorded as well as the risk of a serious health event in future. Further evaluation of this plan is being based on more evidence. There are different committees tasked with evaluating the evidence and making recommendations for change.

The policy has gained impetuous through the inclusion of distinguished specialists in the committees. The specialists aid in initiation of investigations targeted at examining the causes and prevalence in different countries and regions. This action is important in giving the initiative a global perspective.

A multisectoral approach has been adapted to include governments, institutions and professionals in the health sector. The aim is to create awareness among health workers, national leadership, health care providers and the general population on the burden that comes with COPD. This will simplify early detection, prevention and management.

The reports released on regular basis aim at improving the quality of information available to professionals and the public. The main objectives target treatment and exposure of severity levels. It is worth noting that treatment has been very effective so far. The intervention measures have given positive results that are very encouraging.

Patients are classified based on how severe their condition is. Some are headed to hospitals based on their extent of their illness. Each patient bears a personal burden that is sometimes difficult to generalize. The quality of health, level of exercise and breathlessness determine how a patient copes with the disease. Regular updates made from one report to the other provide a better ground for improved intervention.

Management of the condition is simplified and given a universal face. The aim is to benefit from the findings of other people, countries or regions. There is increased movement towards individualized medicine because of the uniqueness of each situation.

Steering committees are in favor of matching therapy with the needs of each patient. The realization that the fourth largest killer in the world is preventable and treatable was a huge step. Intervention measures are aimed at preventing premature death from the disease or from complications arising from this condition. A lot of progress is being made in this regard.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment