Patients’ Experiences and Opinions on Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Use of It as a Tool of Palliative Care on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Sameera Peumal Senanayake,Kalpani Abhayasinghe,Heeraluge Erandie Hasini Perera,Rathugamage Sithija Priyankara Fernando,Kathaluwa Liyana Kankanamge Tharini Dilanka Sandharenu,Ridmi Shashiprabha Maddumage,Athuraliya Gamacharige Kasuni Neranja

doi:10.4236/ojrd.2021.112006

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and life-limiting condition. It has no cure hence it is vital to establish effective methods of improving the quality of remaining life in these patients. One of the key components of improving quality of life is pulmonary rehabilitation. However little research has been conducted to understand the perspectives and lived experience of people with IPF on pulmonary rehabilitation. Hence, we aim to fill this gap in the existing literature. Methods: We sought to understand how patients coped with pulmonary rehabilitation. A patient-centred approach was used to explore the physical and psychological impact of pulmonary rehabilitation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by experienced academics. Interviews used a topic guide but mostly led by the participants. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse data, allowing us to identify common themes in the participants’ experiences. Results: Of fifty invited participants, ten took part in the study (aged 53 - 81 years). Inductive analysis of interviews identified seven second-order themes and eleven first-order themes, represented by two General Dimensions: “motivation” and “Advantages and disadvantages”. Overall, participants found the pulmonary rehabilitation programme to be useful and they experienced an increase in their quality of life following rehabilitation.

Highlights

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, irreversible and progressive disease that causes the development of scars in the lung tissues [1]
pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) provides a programme of exercise, education, social interaction, and support to teach people with IPF teaching them how to deal with their condition and maximize their functional capacity [6]
Study participants felt that exercise could benefit them physically, could influence positively on their mental well-being, and help them to deal with their feelings of depression and carry on with their daily life

Summary

Introduction

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, irreversible and progressive disease that causes the development of scars in the lung tissues [1]. This type of question was asked to get an indication of the participant’s lifestyle before diagnosis of the disease and how IPF had affected their daily life. This is the key information in which the interviewers were interested. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and life-limiting condition It has no cure it is vital to establish effective methods of improving the quality of remaining life in these patients. Participants found the pulmonary rehabilitation programme to be useful and they experienced an increase in their quality of life following rehabilitation

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion