title: "Standing still in the street": experiences, knowledge and beliefs of patients with intermittent claudication--a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of individuals living with intermittent claudication (IC) owing to peripheral artery disease (PAD), their knowledge about the condition, and their thoughts about being asked to walk more and an intervention to promote walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted five focus group sessions with 24 people (71% male; mean age, 71 years) diagnosed with IC with no prior lower extremity revascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two overriding themes emerged: uncertainty and lack of support/empathy. Participants expressed uncertainty about PAD and IC, how risk factors work, and whether lifestyle change, particularly walking, would help. They also expressed dissatisfaction with and lack of empathy from the medical professionals encountered, with feelings of being dismissed and left on their own. There was enthusiasm for an education program to support their self-management of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addressing the knowledge gaps and uncertainty around the disease process and walking will be critical to providing impetus to behavior change. A structured education approach to address these issues seems to be desirable and acceptable to those living with PAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those working with PAD patients should provide clear and consistent information about the disease process and specific information on walking, as well as support to enable and manage behavior change.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gorely
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crank
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Vascular Institute, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.affiliation: York Trials Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom. Electronic address: garry.tew@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Garry Alan
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tew
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064646:Cardiovascular Nursing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*