Perceptions Of Oxygen Therapy Research Articles

Difficult decisions: An interpretative phenomenological analysis study of healthcare professionals’ perceptions of oxygen therapy in palliative care

Background: The role of oxygen therapy to palliate dyspnoea is controversial. Without a clear evidence base oxygen is commonly prescribed, sometimes to the detriment of patients. This use of oxygen appears to be an entrenched culture, the roots of which remain obscure. Aim: To explore healthcare professionals’ perceptions of oxygen therapy in palliative care. Design: Interpretative phenomenological analysis study utilising semi-structured interviews to explore beliefs and behaviours of healthcare professionals regarding palliative oxygen therapy. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Setting/participants: A total of 34 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics in the United Kingdom, who were involved in prescribing, or administering, oxygen therapy to palliate dyspnoea. Results: Most healthcare professionals in this study were well informed about oxygen therapy; all recognised the role of oxygen in palliative care setting as important. The overarching theme of compassion identified sub-themes of ‘comfort’, ‘do anything and everything’ and ‘family benefit’. However, the use of oxygen in the palliative care setting was not without its dilemmas, as additional sub-themes of ‘controversy’, ‘doubt’ and ‘dependency’ illustrated. Conclusion: Findings suggest that oxygen therapy in palliative care poses an on-going dilemma for healthcare professionals striving to provide optimum care. It seems patients and families often expect and welcome oxygen, but the perception of oxygen as a solution to dyspnoea can conflict with healthcare professionals’ own doubt and experiences. There appears to be an emotional cost associated with this dilemma and the choices that need to be made.

How do health-care professionals perceive oxygen therapy? A critical interpretive synthesis of the literature.

Oxygen is one of the commonest health-care interventions worldwide. This might suggest that health-care professionals (HCPs) would be knowledgeable and familiar with its uses and limitations. Yet it is apparent, through clinical audit, that oxygen is probably misunderstood by many HCPs. The aim of this critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) is to explore qualitative and quantitative literature in relation to HCPs beliefs and perceptions of oxygen therapy. A systematic search in Medline, Cinahl, Embase, British Nursing Index and PsychInfo using search terms, such as, oxygen therapy, chronic respiratory disease, HCPs and perceptions yielded 1514 studies of which 12 contained data relevant to the review question. Two reviewers independently screened the articles for eligibility against inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were selected and synthesized with an integrative and interpretive approach using CIS. This allowed diverse empirical evidence to be synthesized to develop existing and new interpretations of data.Three synthetic constructs were interpreted from the available literature, namely, oxygen for symptom relief, levels of knowledge and understanding and oxygen as a therapy for HCPs. The literature alludes to deep-seated beliefs that exist. In order to enhance practice, these beliefs and cultures need to be challenged. Further research is needed to explore HCPs' perceptions of oxygen therapy in order to inform the seemingly resistant adoption of evidence based practice in relation to oxygen.

How do respiratory patients perceive oxygen therapy? A critical interpretative synthesis of the literature.

Oxygen therapy is a common intervention in health care worldwide; yet, despite universal use, it is evident through poor practice that oxygen is often prescribed and administered injudiciously. It is proposed that possibly an influencing culture presides, whereby oxygen is often poorly understood and uncertainty regarding its use exists. It is unclear where the origins of this culture lie but exploring perceptions may enlighten the problem. A review of the literature was undertaken to establish what is already known about this elusive phenomenon. The paucity of any direct evidence regarding perceptions of oxygen directed the review to utilize a critical interpretative synthesis (CIS). The aim of this study was to explore how respiratory patients perceive oxygen therapy. A systematic search in Medline, Cinahl, Embase, British Nursing Index and PsychInfo yielded 1514 studies of which 42 were selected to consider the review question. The CIS allowed evidence from across studies to synthesize existing and new interpretations of data related to patients' perceptions of oxygen therapy. Synthetic constructs then informed the synthesizing arguments, namely positive - feeling safe, enabler and comforter; negative - fear, oxygen versus self, restriction and embarrassment; and impartiality - mixed blessings. The findings are divergent, and at times contradictory. There appears uncertainty among patients regarding the purpose and benefits of oxygen therapy, though an underlying faith in health-care professionals is apparent. This faith seems to foster acceptance of a life-changing therapy, despite the impact, burden and incomplete understanding. There is a clear need for further research regarding these elusive perceptions in order to improve clinical practice in respect of oxygen.

P63 Patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of oxygen therapy? A qualitative study

BackgroundDespite common usage of oxygen as a therapeutic intervention, audit suggests poor prescribing and administration practices exist. Contemporary studies and guidelines propose an influencing culture whereby oxygen is given to...

ABS55: A qualitative study of patient perceptions of home oxygen therapy

Patient interviews provide a unique opportunity to identify common concerns and problems that may not be identified at the level of the general practitioner or hospital, and that may influence patient use of home oxygen therapy. The aim of this study was to describe the patients' perceptions of oxygen therapy and how it has impacted on their life. The study involved the use of semi-structured patient interviews to obtain de-identified qualitative data reflecting patient perceptions of home oxygen therapy. Five initial questions were used to develop a dialogue with the patient. Including: How did you feel when you were told that you needed home oxygen therapy? What are the pluses and minuses of home oxygen therapy? The questions used were formulated after discussion by a group of Respiratory Unit health professionals. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed into a rich text formatted data file for analysis using NVivo (QSR International Software) qualitative analysis software. The Ethics Committees of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (040816) and The University of Adelaide (H-106-2004) approved the study. Qualitative data obtained from 17 face to face interviews. The interviews were recorded electronically and downloaded into computer software. Transcripts were coded to 12 themes covering the impact of needing oxygen, the participants’ feelings about acquiring and having lung disease, their fears and some of the difficulties experienced. Categories and themes were developed around the objectives of the study. A feeling of ‘embarrassment’ was one of the most common occurring themes. During interview it was apparent that the patients expressed two further dominant themes of grief and loss for one's former self, and social isolation. Conflict of interest and funding This study was funded by the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Research Committee Project Grant Funding for 2005.