Pneumoconioses

Patients should be advised of the importance of stopping cigarette smoking. Patients diagnosed with silicosis or chronic beryllium disease should be advised of their increased risk of lung cancer, particularly if they smoke cigarettes.

Patients with silicosis should be advised of their increased risk of tuberculosis.

All patients with pneumoconiosis should be advised of increased risk of respiratory infections, and of the need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and an annual influenza immunisation.[63]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication]. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html ​​​[64]UK Health Security Agency. Immunisation against infectious disease. Nov 2020 [internet publication]. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book

Patients should be advised of their legal rights regarding compensation. US DoL: health benefits, retirement standards, and state workers' compensation programs: black lung compensation Opens in new window UK GOV: Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 Opens in new window UK GOV: get compensation for health problems caused by mining Opens in new window Consult local resources for more information.

It is important to discuss palliation for patients with severe interstitial lung disease if they have unmet physical, psychological, social, or spiritual needs.[50]Rochester CL, Alison JA, Carlin B, et al. Pulmonary rehabilitation for adults with chronic respiratory disease: an official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Aug 15;208(4):e7-26. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202306-1066ST http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37581410?tool=bestpractice.com ​ This should include support for informal carers, advance care planning, and the provision of accessible, multi-disciplinary, holistic assessment and care. In particular, conversations about advance care planning are difficult and should be tackled at an appropriate time, taking account of patient preferences.