What is it about?
In study I, 126 speech-language pathologists, who treat patients with chronic cough (CC) in the United States, completed a survey about referral patterns, cough duration, and patient frustration level. The study revealed significant patient frustration about the treatment process and the wait-time for BCST. In study II, 36 adults with CC referred for BCST completed a four-part survey about cough symptoms and treatment. The survey included the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ; a questionnaire the measures the impact of CC on quality of life) before and after BCST. Participants in study II reported average cough duration of over 2 years before BCST. Twenty-seven of 31 participants in study II improved by at least 1.3 on the LCQ, indicating a clinically significant improvement in 87% of patients.
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Why is it important?
This study suggests that the current management model for CC may be unduly time-consuming, and expensive for patients with CC who are successfully treated with BCST. Practitioners are encouraged to consider BCST earlier in the treatment process.
Perspectives
This research was motivated by the numerous patients I see for behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST), the majority of whom wait months to years to be referred and end up finding a simple and inexpensive, effective treatment. My hope is that this article increases awareness of BCST and results in more patients with chronic cough being referred for BCST in a shorter time period. I hope to publish a valid self-report questionnaire that physicians can use to identify patients with chronic cough who are good candidates for BCST soon.
Laurie Slovarp
The University of Montana
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessing referral and practice patterns of patients with chronic cough referred for behavioral cough suppression therapy, Chronic Respiratory Disease, February 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1479972318755722.
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