title: Defining Patient and Caregivers' Experience of Home Oxygen Therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Home oxygen therapy has a great impact on the lives of patients and their families. The aim of this study is to define the opinions, perceptions and attitudes of patients and their caregivers regarding home oxygen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative, phenomenological study of a sample of 57 subjects, consisting of 18 family members and/or caregivers and 39 patients receiving home oxygen in urban centers. Five focus groups were formed between March and July 2014 in hospitals in Barcelona, Madrid and Alicante. Prior informed consent was obtained from patients and families. The study material consisted of audio recordings of all focus group interviews, transcription of selected materials and field notes. Data analysis was performed using constant comparison method, establishing 2 levels of analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from the focus groups were analyzed on 2 levels. A first level of analysis gave 21 categories. In a second level of analysis, these were integrated into 6 meta-categories: care provided by health professionals, psychological impact, care provided by commercial companies, impact on daily life, problems and satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home oxygen has a major psychological impact on the daily lives of both patients and their families, and can cause social isolation. Although the results show that healthcare professionals are highly appreciated, better coordination is needed between different levels of care and companies supplying oxygen in order to provide patients and families with consistent information and useful strategies.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sociosanitario, Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: xcleries@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Clèries
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Enfermería, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan d'Alacant, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Eusebi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiner
authors.affiliation: Programa de atención a la cronicidad, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Plan Director de las Enfermedades Respiratorias (PDMAR), España; Observatorio de las Terapias Respiratorias, Departamento de Salud, España; Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC), España.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Escarrabill
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Atención domiciliaria; Home care; Opinión del paciente; Oxigenoterapia; Oxygen therapy; Patient opinion