Abstract
Background: The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the experiences of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) patients with a portable oxygen unit and to describe the patients’ self-assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: The study employed a prospective cross-sectional design. Data collection entailed two questionnaires, namely the MedTech20 (patients’ experience of the medical device in four areas) and EQ-5D (HRQoL). The informants consisted of patients (n = 148) treated with such a medical device and that were registered in Skåne University Hospital’s database, Medusa. Results: In the domain Sense of security the informant felt the equipment reliable and safe to use and expressed a sense of control for the user. Regarding Social participation, the responses did not indicate the device to facilitate leisure activities, movement outside the homes, traveling or everyday tasks to a larger extent. The respondents did express a reduced sense of compromised integrity, with a minor effect on Intimacy. With regards to Convenience, the responses indicated the product to provide Adaptability to personal needs. Overall, a strongly affected HRQoL (Your current health condition, EQ-VAS Md = 50 (IQR 36–70)) with strong correlation with EQ-5D was seen. Conclusions: Informants experienced the portable oxygen unit as reliable and safe to use while giving a sense of control over the disease itself. A minor impact on social participation was reported, except for a reduced sense of compromised integrity. The patients also reported a strongly reduced HRQoL.
Highlights
Chronic respiratory failure (CRF) is commonly found as a late-stage feature of a number of chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer, but is seen in a variety of cardiac and neuromuscular conditions
Patients experience a strongly reduced overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that in the case of COPD is even correlated with disease severity [2]
Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) for at least 15 h/day has been a common therapeutic approach in CRF for many years, only COPD patients appear to benefit in terms of long-term survival [1]
Summary
Chronic respiratory failure (CRF) is commonly found as a late-stage feature of a number of chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer, but is seen in a variety of cardiac and neuromuscular conditions. Patients experience a strongly reduced overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that in the case of COPD is even correlated with disease severity [2]. Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) for at least 15 h/day has been a common therapeutic approach in CRF for many years, only COPD patients appear to benefit in terms of long-term survival [1]. Patients that often rely on stationary equipment or heavy tubes appear to struggle to comply with use of LTOT for 15 h/day and suffer from a reduced quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the experiences of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) patients with a portable oxygen unit and to describe the patients’ self-assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
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