Breathing through a troubled life - a phenomenological-hermeneutic study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients' lived experiences during the course of pulmonary rehabilitation

• Published in: International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being 2019-01, Vol.14 (1), p.1647401
• Main Authors: Simonÿ, Charlotte, Andersen, Ingrid Charlotte, Bodtger, Uffe, Birkelund, Regner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Dyspnea; Empirical Studies; Exegesis & hermeneutics; Female; Hermeneutics; Humans; interviews; Life experiences; Male; Middle Aged; participant observation; Patients - psychology; patients' experience; phenomenological-hermeneutic design; Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - psychology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - rehabilitation; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life - psychology; Rehabilitation; Well being
• ISSN: 1748-2631; 1748-2623; 1748-2631
• DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2019.1647401

Purpose: Exploring real-life experiences of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients during rehabilitation can contribute with new knowledge of what has significance for their participation and chance for improved health and well-being. Therefore, this study aims to gain in-depth knowledge of COPD patients' lived experiences while following standard pulmonary out-patient rehabilitation. Methods: Combined participant observations and interviews were conducted among 21 participants in pulmonary rehabilitation. A three-leveled phenomenological-hermeneutic interpretation was applied. Results: Living with COPD was challenging due to dyspnea and other physical troubles. This caused a lack of trust in the body and complicated rehabilitation participation. When improving management of breath during rehabilitation, the patients gained a new sense of trust in the body. This was accompanied by a nascent hope and increased well-being. However, not succeeding in this left patients with a persistent lack of hope. Conclusions: Comprehensive troubles in living with COPD paradoxically prevents patients' prospect of overcoming a perceived lack of trust in their body during standard pulmonary rehabilitation. Enhancing breath management has a significant impact on COPD patients' trust in own capabilities to improve well-being and health. Future rehabilitation must accommodate COPD patients' troubles by longer-lasting, well-coordinated, individually supportive and more easily accessible programmes.