Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--a patients' perspective.
BACKGROUND
Exacerbations are now an important clinical variable for research into, and management of, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphasis is usually on reductions in the incidence of exacerbations and their impact on quality of life. For such research to be useful and comparable there needs to be a clearly defined understanding of what is meant by the term 'exacerbation'. The aim of this study was to explore the notion of COPD exacerbations from the viewpoint of patients who had recently suffered an exacerbation.


METHODS
Using principles from grounded theory we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 23 volunteers from Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK who were identified as having had a COPD exacerbation. Interviews were recorded locally and translated into English for analysis. Notable themes were identified for each informant and their occurrences compared.


RESULTS
Patients' reasons for consulting fell into four categories: 'frightening change'; 'change in sputum colour'; 'gradual deterioration'; and 'opportunistic diagnosis'. Most patients consulted frequently about their COPD, but did not afford their exacerbations the same degree of prominence as healthcare professionals (HCPs).


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide a new way of thinking about COPD exacerbations, offering a greater understanding and classification of the reasons underlying the decision of COPD patients to consult with HCPs. They suggest that the patient perspective of exacerbations is more complex than previously thought. These findings could be applied to clinical practice and research, facilitating focussed decisions on COPD management.
Adams
Rachel
R
School of Population and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
Chavannes
Niels
N
Jones
Kevin
K
Ostergaard
Marianne Stubbe
MS
Price
David
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology