Education in pulmonary rehabilitation: the patient's perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain from patients' perspectives what should be included in the educational component of pulmonary rehabilitation and how it should be delivered, and to compare those perspectives with the views of health professionals.


METHODS
Qualitative research method using focus groups of patients and health professionals.


METHODS
A regional respiratory center and outpatient clinic.


METHODS
Purposive samples of 32 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 18%-67% predicted) divided into 6 focus groups; 8 health professionals knowledgeable about COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation who attended a multidisciplinary focus group meeting.


METHODS
Participants attended focus group meetings (2-3 h) guided by a series of questions and topics; results were posted to the participants for their verification.


METHODS
The educational content of a pulmonary rehabilitation program.


RESULTS
Deficits in patients' knowledge, understanding, and management of their disease were identified. Six key educational topics resulted: disease education, management of breathlessness, management of an exacerbation, medication, psychosocial support, and welfare and benefits systems. Patients and health professionals preferred group information sessions provided by knowledgeable people speaking layman's language, with oral presentations being supplemented by written information.


CONCLUSIONS
Gaining a greater understanding of patients' educational needs permits health professionals who design pulmonary rehabilitation programs to include these requirements in a format that is acceptable to patients. The key topics, content, and format for delivery of the educational component for pulmonary rehabilitation were identified. Future research should focus on the development of an educational package and assessment of its efficacy, which would facilitate equitable patient access to education in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Belfast Trust City Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Julie S
JS
Wilson
Brenda
B
O'Neill
Jacqueline
J
Reilly
Joseph
J
MacMahon
Judy M
JM
Bradley
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index