Palliative Care and End-of-Life Management in COPD Flashcards
7 cards from real COPD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Palliative Care and End-of-Life Management in COPD flashcards as text
Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are used in end-stage COPD primarily to treat:
Answer: Anxiety and panic attacks associated with dyspnea
Benzodiazepines are indicated for the anxiety and panic that frequently accompany dyspnea in end-stage COPD, reducing the subjective distress of breathlessness.
Which of the following best defines 'hospice eligibility' criteria for a COPD patient in the United States?
Answer: Prognosis of 6 months or less if disease follows its natural course, as certified by a physician
US Medicare hospice benefit requires a physician to certify a prognosis of 6 months or less if the illness runs its expected course.
A COPD patient declines cardiopulmonary resuscitation but wishes to continue bronchodilator therapy and corticosteroids during exacerbations. This is best described as:
Answer: Selective life-sustaining treatment consistent with goals-of-care discussions
Patients can choose selective interventions; declining CPR while continuing disease-modifying treatments reflects individualized goals-of-care planning.
Which statement about opioid use for dyspnea in COPD is MOST accurate?
Answer: Low-dose opioids can safely relieve dyspnea without clinically significant respiratory depression in most COPD patients
Evidence shows that carefully titrated low-dose opioids relieve dyspnea effectively and are generally safe in COPD without causing clinically meaningful respiratory depression.
When discussing prognosis with a COPD patient, a CCE educator should:
Answer: Use honest, compassionate communication aligned with the patient's readiness and preferences
Effective prognostic communication is honest and compassionate, tailored to the patient's readiness and preferences, and supports informed decision-making.
Which of the following is a recognized barrier to palliative care integration in COPD compared to cancer?
Answer: COPD has an unpredictable disease trajectory making prognostication difficult
The unpredictable, fluctuating course of COPD with acute exacerbations followed by partial recovery makes it difficult to identify a clear transition point for palliative care initiation.
A family member insists on full resuscitation for a COPD patient who has a valid POLST requesting comfort measures only. The CCE educator's BEST response is to:
Answer: Support the patient's documented wishes and involve the care team and social worker to mediate the conflict
A valid POLST reflects the patient's own autonomous decision and should be honored; involving the interdisciplinary team and social worker is the appropriate step to address family conflict.