BACKGROUND: Anxiety is a common comorbidity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but its identification and management are often insufficient. AIM: To explore the experience of living with and managing comorbid anxiety and COPD from a patient's perspective. METHOD: The study followed a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were carried out with 14 patients who had COPD. RESULTS: Participants believed anxiety had a significant impact on their quality of life. It made them feel isolated and caused them to avoid social occasions and daily activities. Identifying anxiety was a challenge because of the overlap in the symptoms of anxiety and those of COPD, and the side-effects of medication. CONCLUSION: Nurses can play a vital role in screening and managing anxiety, and educating people in strategies to prevent episodes of panic.
BACKGROUND:Anxiety is a common comorbidity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but its identification and management are often insufficient. AIM: To explore the experience of living with and managing comorbid anxiety and COPD from a patient's perspective. METHOD: The study followed a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were carried out with 14 patients who had COPD. RESULTS:Participants believed anxiety had a significant impact on their quality of life. It made them feel isolated and caused them to avoid social occasions and daily activities. Identifying anxiety was a challenge because of the overlap in the symptoms of anxiety and those of COPD, and the side-effects of medication. CONCLUSION: Nurses can play a vital role in screening and managing anxiety, and educating people in strategies to prevent episodes of panic.
Authors: Zafar A Usmani; Kristin V Carson; Karen Heslop; Adrian J Esterman; Anthony De Soyza; Brian J Smith Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-03-21