Starting home nebulizer therapy: patients' expectations and subsequent outcome at 2 months.
Twenty-six patients with severe COPD or asthma completed standard questionnaires before, and 2 months after, starting home nebulized bronchodilator therapy. Patients' perceived illness severity and their expectations of treatment with regard to symptoms were examined in the first questionnaire, and outcome was assessed in the second. Before treatment started patients expected a definite improvement in all symptoms studied. After treatment the group showed only a marginal subjective improvement in all symptoms. The improvement attained with regard to breathlessness, ability to get out and about, and general quality of life was significantly lower than had been expected. While home nebulized bronchodilator therapy is well tolerated and confers some subjective benefit in selected individuals, patients appear to have unrealistically high expectations of treatment.
Simpson
A J
AJ
Respiratory Medicine Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, U.K.
Tweeddale
P M
PM
Crompton
G K
GK
D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011788:Quality of Life; D012606:Scotland; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents