People with chronic lung diseases like COPD and asthma often face frequent hospital visits and emergency room trips. A new review looked at whether telenursing could help. This approach uses phone calls and video chats to support patients instead of just in-person visits. The study included 4,340 adults with these conditions. Half received telenursing support while the other half got traditional nursing care.
Over six months, those with telenursing had fewer severe flare-ups than the comparison group. By twelve months, the difference grew larger. The number of emergency room visits stayed the same for both groups. Hospital stays were also shorter for the telenursing group at six months, though the time spent in the hospital was similar once patients were admitted.
Patients reported that the remote care was acceptable and they liked it. However, the study could not fully measure how well patients followed their treatment plans or how satisfied they were because the methods varied. The results suggest this model might slightly ease pressure on healthcare systems by reducing severe flare-ups and hospitalizations. More research is needed to standardize how these services are delivered and measured.
