An Emotional-distress-based Integrated Care Programme in Patients With an Acute Exacerbation of COPD (EmoD) – A Feasibility Study

We have developed a new counseling service that focuses on the emotional distress experienced by people living with COPD. The service has been specially developed for patients who have experienced a deterioration in their lung condition (known as an acute exacerbation of COPD). The new program is led by an APN team. Other professionals are involved in the program, such as medical staff and physiotherapists. The new counseling service lasts three months. Patients will receive ten counseling sessions with a specialized nurse. The overall objective of the study is to assess the feasibility of the newly developed emotional-distress-based integrated care programme. Therefore, an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design will be applied. To assess the reach and potential effectiveness of the programme, a monocentric, non-randomised, single-arm, pre-post design will be used for quantitative data collection. A one-to-one interview will be conducted for qualitative data collection. To assess the implementation of the new programme in terms of fidelity and acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility from the perspective of HCPs, a document analysis will be conducted and HCPs will be surveyed using an online questionnaire for quantitative data collection. For qualitative data collection, small group interviews will be conducted.