title: COPD in primary care settings in Ireland: stories from usual care.
abstract: The aim of the PRINCE study was to determine the effectiveness of a structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for those living with COPD in primary care in Ireland. This qualitative element of the larger PRINCE trial aims to describe the constituents of 'usual care' for patients allocated to the control arm of the study. A descriptive qualitative study was used to explore the constituents of usual care. A convenience sample of participants (n=20) allocated to the usual care group were interviewed. Three main themes arose from the study: experiences of having and managing COPD, lifestyle advice, and factors that helped or hindered self-management. Usual care left many people grappling in the dark trying to manage their COPD. It was found that usual care was not at its optimum for people with COPD in the control arm of the PRINCE study.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland, Galway. n.hyde1@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: Dympna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Bróna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D016896:Treatment Outcome