setting (Amalakuhan & Adams, 2015). COPD will benefit from a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological
interventions guided by an interprofessional collaborative practice. The concept map clearly identifies interventions that can be
performed independently and those that need interprofessional collaboration. For instance, it is necessary to collaborate with a
respiratory therapist to teach and assist a patient in coughing effectively. Similarly, referring the patient to a pulmonary rehabilitation
program can help lower exertional dyspnea and the perceived intensity of breathlessness. The concept map also facilitates
communication in an interprofessional team by identifying the types of nursing interventions required, thereby preventing conflict.
Health care professionals must collaborate with caregivers and COPD patients to achieve high-quality outcomes. This
collaboration should effectively optimize non-pharmacological interventions such as providing smoking cessation counseling for
patients who find it difficult to quit the habit, promoting pulmonary rehabilitation programs, and administering appropriate
vaccinations. Interprofessional collaborations should also focus on helping patients gradually incorporate more physical activity into
their lifestyles and managing comorbidities common in COPD in addition to the interventions discussed in the concept map. Health
care professionals, caregivers, and COPD patients must work together to deliver the prescribed pharmacotherapy (Amalakuhan &
Adams, 2015).
Value and Relevance of Evidence
An evidence-based concept map with interprofessional strategies allows health care professionals to collaborate and analyze
patient data as well as think critically (Aein & Aliakbari, 2017). According to Cook, Dover, Dickson, and Colton, concept map
development is an alternative to a traditional nursing care plan for evidence-based practices. The traditional linear format of a nursing
care plan may not have the scope to record a holistic picture of patients’ requirements. It does not facilitate visualization of the
interrelated nature of patient data. On the other hand, a concept map allows for a systematic visualization of psychological,
physiological, and pathophysiological relationships and interactions, which promotes quality analysis (as cited in Aein & Aliakbari,
2017). The findings of a study conducted by Gerdeman, Lux, and Jacko show that medical students approached concept mapping as
CONCEPT MAP 4
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an instrument to improve clinical judgment and make better clinical decisions. Finally, the minimal use of text in a concept map
facilitates easy searching for terms related to the disorder or condition being treated (as cited in Aein & Aliakbari, 2017).
Conclusion
COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. Interprofessional strategies to treat COPD
can improve outcomes, and collaboration between health care professionals can aid in providing comprehensive care to patients.
Concept mapping is useful in improving critical thinking among professionals. A concept map helps in recording a holistic picture of
the patient’s needs and facilitates visualization of the data. Therefore, a concept map is an essential tool to develop nursing care plans
to achieve high-quality outcomes.
CONCEPT MAP 5
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References
Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., & Makic, M. B. F. (2016). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care
(11th ed.). Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=s3OKCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
Aein, F., & Aliakbari, F. (2017). Effectiveness of concept mapping and traditional linear nursing care plans on critical thinking skills
in clinical pediatric nursing course. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 6(13).
Amalakuhan, B., & Adams, S. G. (2015). Improving outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The role of the
interprofessional approach. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 10(1), 1225–1232.