Psychosocial impact of the progress of chronic respiratory disease and long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The psychosocial impact of the progress of chronic respiratory disease and long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTOT) was examined to develop an appropriate intervention strategy for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.


METHODS
Psychosocial factors were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 144 patients receiving LTOT were compared with 100 chronic respiratory patients (RES) who were not yet suffering from respiratory failure and therefore not under LTOT, and a control group of 51 healthy subjects (HCS).


RESULTS
With the progress of the disease, there was a decrease in daily activities as well as in body mass index. Support of family members and others, life satisfaction, and morale decreased, while the tendency for depression increased significantly. These patterns appeared to begin before initiation of LTOT and worsened in the respiratory failure stage. The negative emotions ranged from 'feeling helpless', 'feeling being a burden and miserable', 'denying LTOT', and 'feeling dependent and anxious'.


CONCLUSIONS
For pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, an effective intervention strategy that is suggested from this study should address these psychosocial issues at the initiation of LTOT, and follow through with continuous care throughout life under therapy to counter the development of negative attitudes.
Doi
Y
Y
School of Nursing, Osaka Prefecture College of Nursing, Osaka, Japan. yokodoi-@osaka-hus.ac.jp
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires