November is COPD Awareness Month

November is National COPD Awareness Month, and the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers (APAPP) is committed to empowering both patients and healthcare professionals in the fight against this chronic lung disease.

One crucial aspect of COPD management is oxygen therapy. Many patients with COPD rely on supplemental oxygen to maintain their quality of life and engage in daily activities. However, navigating the world of oxygen therapy can be overwhelming. In preparation for COPD Awareness month, we want to highlight some fantastic resources available to both patients and APPs to ensure safe and effective oxygen use.

Patient Resources:

• YouAndOxygenTherapy.com: This joint project by the COPD Foundation and the American Thoracic Society offers an incredible wealth of information for patients. Here, you’ll find informative animations demonstrating safe and effective use of oxygen equipment, discussions with experts explaining the rationale behind oxygen therapy, and even interviews with other oxygen users sharing their experiences.
• COPD Foundation Oxygen Therapy Basics Guide: This recently updated and expanded guide provides a comprehensive overview of oxygen therapy basics. Developed in collaboration with patients, clinicians, and scientists, this guide is a valuable resource for patients who may not have received thorough instruction or lack access to a respiratory therapist. Download it here: https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/Educational-Materials-Resources/Downloads.aspx#OxygenTherapyBasics

Support and Community:

• COPD Foundation OxyTalk: Join the COPD Foundation’s monthly virtual support group, OxyTalk! Via Zoom at 4:00 pm Eastern Time on the second Wednesday of each month, OxyTalk brings together patients (with various lung conditions, not just COPD!), caregivers, and clinicians. This attendee-driven forum is a great space to connect with others, share experiences, and learn from experts. Register here: https://copdf.co/oxy-talk

Breather Beware:

We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the COPD Foundation’s “Breather Beware” initiative. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of over-the-counter oxygen devices often marketed as “nonconcentrators.” These devices lack FDA evaluation and can pose serious safety risks for patients. The COPD Foundation worked with Rich Casaburi to evaluate them head-to-head with a real concentrator and a compressed gas tank and published in RC Journal last year (https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/68/4/445), receiving an Editor’s Choice designation and selection as one of the top 10 COPD-related articles of 2024 by Healio Pulmonology (https://www.healio.com/news/pulmonology/20231213/top-10-copd-stories-of-2023). 

This year, they hope to continue to work with FDA and FTC to get these things banned as well as create more public awareness around them.

Resources for APPs:

APAPP Founder/President, Corinne Young, MSN, FNP-C, FCCP, helped the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) develop this COPD evaluation tool. 

You can also find a very helpful ‘Pathways to Disease: Inflammation in COPD’ infographic from our partner ADVENT here. ADVENTprogram.com has many resources for APP’s to learn about the disease burden and heterogeneity of COPD. 

The COPD Foundation offers a wealth of resources specifically for healthcare professionals. Explore their extensive library of educational materials, including videos, downloadable guides, and podcasts. You can also find valuable information for clinical practice on their website and YouTube channel.

Let’s work together this COPD Awareness Month to empower patients and ensure safe and effective oxygen therapy use. By utilizing these resources, we can improve the lives of those living with COPD this November and all year long. 

Have COPD information you want to share with APAPP members? Send us an email at