Juggling the management of everyday life activities in persons living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Purpose Evidence regarding everyday life activities in people living with COPD is limited. Such evidence can improve our understanding when designing interventions for pulmonary rehabilitation that aim at increasing or maintaining participation in these activities. The aim of this study was to describe how people living with COPD experience and manage everyday life activities. Materials and Methods The sample comprised four males and four females with an age ranging from 65–87 years. Participants were interviewed in their own homes regarding experiences of performing and managing everyday life activities. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Results Findings from this study comprised the theme “Juggling to manage everyday life activities with COPD” and three categories representing the elements of this theme: (1) consequences of COPD symptoms, (2) adjustment of activities, and (3) contextual aspects. Conclusion This study found the participants with COPD juggling the management of everyday life activities. The juggle generated a manageable daily life, which came at the expense of making deliberate choices and prioritizing everyday life activities that were necessary for participation in valued and engaging activities in order to maintain health and well-being. Implications for Rehabilitation People living with COPD experience a complex juggling between the consequences of COPD symptoms and contextual aspects when managing everyday life activities. The participants had largely accepted their disease and adjusted to their situation. The disease was still described as frustrating and generated less focus on making deliberate choices and prioritizing everyday life activities that are necessary for participation in valued and engaging activities. Health professionals need to support people living with COPD in making deliberate choices in order to continue participating in valued and engaging everyday life activities as they affect health and well-being. Pulmonary rehabilitation should focus more on supporting participation in social relations and on using everyday technologies.