Publicatie

Publication date

De NCSI-methode: maatwerk voor COPD-zorg.

Bischoff, E.W.M.A. De NCSI-methode: maatwerk voor COPD-zorg. Huisarts en Wetenschap: 2016, 59(6), p. 242-247.
Read online
Integral health status is replacing forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) as main indicator of the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A method using the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument (NCSI), an Internet questionnaire, has long been used in hospitals to obtain detailed information about the integral health status of patients, but it has not yet been used in primary care. The aim of this study was to assess whether the NCSI method can also be used in general practice.

The practice nurses of five general practices were trained in the use of the NCSI method, which was then implemented to evaluate the integral health status of patients with COPD. Instrument feasibility was evaluated by means of logbooks and digital registration; focus group meetings were held to assess the experiences of patients and practice nurses.

Of the 180 patients who received COPD care, 134 (74%) completed the NCSI, mostly by computer at home. According to the practice nurses, 81% of the patients had only mild impairment, whereas the NCSI scores indicated that more than half of the patients had severe problems in three or more of the eight NCSI subdomains. Use of the NCSI was feasible within the structure of the COPD care programme, and both patients and practice nurses found the instrument valuable. All participants would like to continue using the NCSI.

Patients seen in primary care often have more serious health problems than can be expected on the basis of FEV1 measurements. There is a need for detailed information about the health status of these patients, and the NCSI would seem to be an appropriate instrument for obtaining this information.