Evidence-Informed Home-Based Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Narrative Literature Review
Diana Paskaleva, Ekaterina RaykovaPurpose:
To critically examine evidence on nurses’ contributions to home-based education and self-management support for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to develop an evidence-informed framework for community practice.
Background:
Long-term COPD management depends on education, self-management skills, early recognition of exacerbations, rehabilitation, and continuity of care beyond hospital settings. Evidence on home-based nursing interventions remains fragmented.
Methods:
An iterative, purposive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar was conducted for English-language publications issued between January 2017 and June 2026. Thirty-one sources, including empirical studies, evidence reviews, and clinical practice guidelines, were retained and synthesized using a narrative comparative approach.
Results:
Six interrelated domains were identified: comprehensive assessment; individualized education and self-management support; pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity; family engagement and psychosocial support; clinical monitoring and early intervention; and multidisciplinary care coordination. Nurse-led home-based interventions were associated with improvements in inhaler technique, treatment adherence, self-management confidence, functional capacity, and health-related quality of life. Effects on hospital admissions varied according to intervention characteristics and care contexts.
Conclusions:
Home-based nursing is an important component of integrated COPD management. The proposed framework offers a structured but adaptable approach to patient-centered community care; however, its feasibility, implementation, and clinical effectiveness require evaluation across different healthcare systems.