Advanced Scoliosis Impact on COPD: Worsened Outcomes Due to Lack of Motivational Interviewing and Shared Decision Making

Lack of meaningful patient communication and patient participation in the plan of care leads to preventable negative outcomes for advanced COPD in a patient with a history of progressive scoliotic curvature who presented multiple times with complaints of worsening respiratory symptoms. This case explores how applying a holistic combination of strategies including motivational interviewing, shared-decision making and proper communication can improve the level of patient care. Consistent and combinatory approach of these established and validated strategies could have prevented the patient’s increased symptoms of anxiety, declining quality of life, and need for unnecessary medical testing.