TITLE:
Patients’ Experiences and Opinions on Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Use of It as a Tool of Palliative Care on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
AUTHORS:
Sameera Peumal Senanayake, Kalpani Abhayasinghe, Rathugamage Sithija Priyankara Fernando, Heeraluge Erandie Hasini Perera, Ridmi Shashiprabha Maddumage, Athuraliya Gamacharige Kasuni Neranja, Kathaluwa Liyana Kankanamge Tharini Dilanka Sandharenu
KEYWORDS:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation, IPF, Patient Perspective, Exercise, Quality of Life
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases,
Vol.11 No.2,
May
12,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and
life-limiting condition. It has no cure hence it is vital to establish
effective methods of improving the quality of remaining life in these patients.
One of the key components of improving quality of life is pulmonary
rehabilitation. However little research has been conducted to understand the
perspectives and lived experience of people with IPF on pulmonary
rehabilitation. Hence, we aim to fill this gap in the existing literature. Methods: We sought to understand how patients coped
with pulmonary rehabilitation. A patient-centred approach was used to
explore the physical and psychological impact of pulmonary rehabilitation.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted by experienced academics. Interviews
used a topic guide but mostly led by the participants. An inductive thematic
approach was used to analyse data, allowing us to identify common themes in the
participants’ experiences. Results: Of fifty invited participants, ten
took part in the study (aged 53 - 81 years). Inductive analysis of interviews
identified seven second-order themes and eleven first-order themes, represented
by two General Dimensions: “motivation” and “Advantages and disadvantages”.
Overall, participants found the pulmonary rehabilitation programme to be useful
and they experienced an increase in their quality of life following
rehabilitation.