title: Illness experiences of persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: self-perceived efficacy of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation.
abstract: This qualitative study explores the illness experiences, the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation as perceived by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their rationale for improvements in health. 23 patients participated in a daily, three-month home-based pulmonary rehabilitation. A pre-post self-perceived assessment of efficacy was conducted. Semi-structured interviews, illness narratives and participant-observation provided a "dense description" of patients' lived-experience before and after the program. Interviews and narratives were tape-recorded, transcribed and coded. Qualitative data was subjected to "thematic content analysis" and "contextualized semantic interpretation". Patients compare functional status before and after falling ill, experience loss, stigma and depression, describe health improvements and judge the pulmonary rehabilitation's efficacy. Giving voice to chronically-ill patients, as individuals, is needed. To reduce clinical conflicts, health professionals should encourage illness narratives and value their patients' lived-experience.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana Maria de Sousa
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín-Nogueras
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nations
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires