Optimizing Treatment for Hospitalized Patients with COPD: A Study on the Impact of a LINE App-Based Multidisciplinary Team Approach Targeting Pharmacological Treatment, Lifestyle Changes, and Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition that significantly impacts patients' health status. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to address pharmacological and non- pharmacological treatments. The integration of mobile apps and devices improves COPD management by reducing symptoms and exacerbations. LINE, a commonly used communication app, enhanced team coordination and real-time decision-making. This study explored the effectiveness of LINE-based MDT interventions in hospitalized patients with COPD.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included patients with COPD admitted for exacerbations and compared their outcomes before and after the implementation of LINE-based MDT care. The MDT consisted of pulmonologists, care managers, nurses, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and long-term care teams. A LINE group coordinated care in real-time, enabling the team to promptly review the patients' conditions, adjust treatment plans, and provide tailored interventions.

RESULTS

The LINE-based MDT group demonstrated significantly higher intervention rates, including systemic steroids, inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, long-acting muscarinic antagonists, and pulmonary rehabilitation (p<0.05). BSRS improvement was greater in the MDT group than the non-MDT group (40.9% vs 29.7%, p = 0.016). However, there were no significant differences between the groups' readmission rates, emergency room visits, or one year survival (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Implementing LINE-based MDT care significantly improved the delivery of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, enhanced coordination, and facilitated comprehensive management, leading to better quality of life outcomes, as evidenced by improvements in BSRS scores. This highlights the value of leveraging real-time communication tools like LINE app to optimize COPD care.