| dc.description.abstract | Background:
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive and life-limiting condition.
From a healthcare perspective it is vital to establish effective methods of improving the quality
of remaining life in these patients. This requires a detailed understanding of the multiple
impacts of an IPF diagnosis on the individual.
Methods:
We sought to understand how patients coped with their initial diagnosis, how they live with
the disease day-to-day, and their experiences and opinions of the professional support
they receive. A patient-centred approach was used to explore the social, psychological and
physical impacts of IPF. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by an experienced academic.
Interview questions were written by the researchers but guided by informal conversations
with patients and clinicians. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse the
data, allowing us to identify common themes in the patients' experiences.
Results:
Of fifty invited participants, ten took part in the study (aged 53±81 years; 9 male). Inductive
analysis of interviews identified seven second-order themes and eleven first-order themes,
represented by two General Dimensions: `Patient experience with the condition' and
`Patient-led recommendations for practice'. The key message on `coping' in these patients
was that acceptance of their condition led to a sense of optimism. Participants reported
using appraisal-focused coping strategies to change their perspectives (thinking positively)
and emotion-focused strategies to overcome depression (the main opportunity for emotional
expression being an IPF support group). The support group also facilitated problem-focused
coping: individuals exchanged knowledge and experience and gave one another tips on
how to live with their condition.
Conclusions:
Health professionals should provide patients with information that focuses on living with IPF,
encouraging them to make lifestyle changes and adaptations to improve quality of life. Family
members should receive education about IPF so that they can support such changes.
Patients should be encouraged to join a support group and to participate in physical activity
(again preferably group-based). This study offers novel findings that will help inform muchneeded
changes in the practice of supporting IPF patients to cope with their diagnosis and
disease progression. | en_US |
