PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the patient experience of cough in a population of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study design was developed and elicited the views of 26 patients with lung cancer who had current or past experience with cough. RESULTS: The data's four themes highlight the complex and distressing nature of cough, including its interaction with other symptoms, such as breathlessness, fatigue and sleep disturbance. A theme around descriptions of cough suggests typically a dry tickly cough and highlights mechanical and environmental triggers for cough. The theme around the effects of cough in daily life shows the impact of cough in socialising, the embarrassment from cough and the psychological effects experienced by patients. The last theme focuses on strategies for coping with and managing cough, showing the perceived ineffectiveness of current antitussives and the patients' use of a variety of approaches on an ad hoc basis to try to manage their cough often unsuccessfully. CONCLUSION: Cough has not received the same attention as other cancer symptoms, which means that patients' experience of a distressing and difficult symptom is often unnoticed by health care professionals. More clinical and research attention in this debilitating symptom is necessary.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the patient experience of cough in a population of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study design was developed and elicited the views of 26 patients with lung cancer who had current or past experience with cough. RESULTS: The data's four themes highlight the complex and distressing nature of cough, including its interaction with other symptoms, such as breathlessness, fatigue and sleep disturbance. A theme around descriptions of cough suggests typically a dry tickly cough and highlights mechanical and environmental triggers for cough. The theme around the effects of cough in daily life shows the impact of cough in socialising, the embarrassment from cough and the psychological effects experienced by patients. The last theme focuses on strategies for coping with and managing cough, showing the perceived ineffectiveness of current antitussives and the patients' use of a variety of approaches on an ad hoc basis to try to manage their cough often unsuccessfully. CONCLUSION: Cough has not received the same attention as other cancer symptoms, which means that patients' experience of a distressing and difficult symptom is often unnoticed by health care professionals. More clinical and research attention in this debilitating symptom is necessary.
Authors: Janelle Yorke; Mari Lloyd-Williams; Jacky Smith; Fiona Blackhall; Amelie Harle; June Warden; Jackie Ellis; Mark Pilling; Jemma Haines; Karen Luker; Alex Molassiotis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-06-26 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Linda Birt; Nicky Hall; Jon Emery; Jon Banks; Katie Mills; Margaret Johnson; Willie Hamilton; Fiona M Walter Journal: BMJ Open Respir Res Date: 2014-12-11
Authors: Peng Wang; Min Zhu; Dong Zhang; Xue-Guang Guo; Shu Zhao; Xue-Lin Zhang; De-Long Wang; Chang-Ting Liu Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2019-06-11 Impact factor: 4.452
Authors: Britt-Marie Bernhardson; Carol Tishelman; Birgit H Rasmussen; Senada Hajdarevic; Marlene Malmström; Trine Laura Overgaard Hasle; Louise Locock; Lars E Eriksson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-03-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jaclyn A Smith; Amélie Harle; Rachel Dockry; Kimberley Holt; Philip Russell; Alex Molassiotis; Janelle Yorke; Ryan Robinson; Mark A Birrell; Maria G Belvisi; Fiona Blackhall Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2021-03-15 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Richard Wagland; Jackie Ellis; Chris D Bailey; Jemma Haines; Ann Caress; Mari Lloyd Williams; Paul Lorigan; Jaclyn Smith; Carol Tishelman; Richard Booton; Karen Luker; Fiona Blackhall; Alex Molassiotis Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2012-01-20 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: J Ellis; J Warden; A Molassiotis; P Mackereth; M Lloyd-Williams; C Bailey; K Burns; J Yorke Journal: Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) Date: 2016-07-08 Impact factor: 2.520
Authors: Amélie Harle; Alex Molassiotis; Oliver Buffin; Jack Burnham; Jaclyn Smith; Janelle Yorke; Fiona H Blackhall Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2020-01-06 Impact factor: 4.430