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People with lung and heart conditions live with breathlessness every day and experience anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Chronic breathlessness is a frequent reason for Emergency Department visits and hospital admissions.
Internationally, growing research supports the use of symptom-based care to lessen the effects of breathlessness to improve quality of life, assist families/carers in distress and potentially reduce hospital admissions. Despite the research, there are few available services in Australia, including the ACT, that focus on the management of breathlessness.
CHN is working in collaboration with University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Southside Physio, consumers and clinicians to co-design and develop a pilot of a home Breathlessness Intervention Service tailored to the ACT. UTS will complete an independent evaluation of the pilot.
The 12-month ABIS Pilot program opened referrals from general practice in March 2023. The client receives an initial home visit by a Physiotherapist, with 2 to 4 follow-up visits at home or via a phone call by a Nurse or a Physiotherapist. Interventions are non-pharmacological and address the ‘Breathing, Thinking and Functioning’ components of breathlessness. Interventions are aimed at both patient and/or their carer.
Contact: palliativecare@chnact.org.au