Summary of recommendations | Right Decisions

Right Decisions
Respiratory : Quality prescribing strategy - a guide for improvement
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Summary of recommendations

Please update your RDS mobile app to version 4.7.1

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. When you install the update, you will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively install the update to install RDS app version 4.7.1 to see this improvement. Installing this update is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new contingency arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

ICS (licensed only as part of combination therapy (with LABA and/or LAMA)) are prescribed for people with COPD who have a severe exacerbation, features of asthma or more than 2 exacerbations in one year.
Review patients three months following initiation of inhaled ICS as part of combination therapy and stop ICS if there is insufficient response or adverse effects
Mucolytic therapy is considered for symptoms of chronic cough with productive sputum and should be reviewed four weeks after commencing therapy, stopping if symptoms have not improved with use
Regular review of mucolytic therapy during the annual COPD review should be undertaken and may be stopped if there is no productive cough
Review individuals with COPD on separate LAMA and LABA / ICS inhalers and, if appropriate, change to triple therapy inhalers
Review antibiotic course length (five-day course recommended) if needed for infective exacerbations of COPD, with sputum cultures for treatment failure
Repeated use of 'rescue medication' (steroid and/or antibiotic) (two or more courses per year) should trigger a review to optimise long-term management