title: Oxygen Therapy for Interstitial Lung Disease. A Mismatch between Patient Expectations and Experiences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Domiciliary oxygen therapy is commonly prescribed for patients with interstitial lung disease and hypoxemia, either at rest or during exertion, with the aim of improving symptoms and functional status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore perspectives of adults with interstitial lung disease about domiciliary oxygen therapy, comparing insights from patients using and not using oxygen therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using semistructured interviews was undertaken on 24 adults residing in and near Melbourne, Australia who had a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and met the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand guidelines for domiciliary oxygen therapy. Study subjects included individuals who were oxygen-naive (n = 12) and oxygen-experienced (n = 12). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two investigators in accordance with the grounded theory method of analysis. Themes were established by consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients using domiciliary oxygen therapy described widespread variation in usage. Oxygen-naive patients expected oxygen therapy to relieve dyspnea, whereas oxygen-experienced patients emphasized the benefits of oxygen on other, non-dyspnea-related physical symptoms. Practical and psychosocial challenges of using oxygen therapy were raised by both groups of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the different expectations and experiences of domiciliary oxygen therapy for adults with interstitial lung disease. It is important to understand and address patients' concerns about the use of oxygen therapy for these patients.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|2 Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|3 School of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Yet H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5434-9342
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|2 Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|4 Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole S L
authors.initials: NSL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|2 Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|3 School of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|5 Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and.|6 Department of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000628:therapy*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: ambulatory oxygen therapy; long-term oxygen therapy; qualitative research