Case-finding for COPD clinic acceptability to patients in GPs across Hampshire: a qualitative study

Abstract

Despite high mortality and morbidity, COPD remains under-diagnosed. Case-finding strategies are possible, but patients’ perspectives are unexplored. Using qualitative methods, we explored the patient perspective of a case-finding intervention among at-risk patients in primary care. Semi-structured telephone interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis utilised. Seven patients without (mean age 64.5 years (58–74), n = 4) and 8 with obstructed spirometry (mean age 63.5 (53–75), n = 4) were interviewed. Themes identified were motives, challenges and concerns regarding attending the clinic. These included wanting to be well; to help with research; concern over negative impact to life from COPD diagnosis; perceived utility of the clinic; quality of information given; staff manner, approachability and knowledge; and perceived effects of the clinic on lifestyle, self-management and symptoms. The intervention was generally deemed useful and reassuring, although shared information was too detailed or irrelevant for some. Several reported positive lifestyle changes, improved symptoms and improved self-management.

Perspectives and Attitudes of General Practitioners Towards Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological COPD Management in a Belgian Primary Care Setting: A Qualitative Study

“…A main recurrent issue in primary care is the lack of spirometry performed by GPs to detect and diagnose COPD, 31 contributing to it remaining largely undiagnosed or being diagnosed late in the course of the disease. 32 A telephone survey conducted on 197 Flemish GPs in 2006 showed an undoubted interest among GPs in office spirometry; however, they needed educational and financial support to overcome the prevailing barriers in establishing office spirometry on a routine basis.…”

Acceptability and barriers of a GP–physiotherapist partnership in the diagnosis and management of COPD in primary care: A qualitative study

“…Qualitative research that explores the acceptability, challenges and facilitators to implementation of interventions is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of new models of care 20 and can inform ways in which interventions and service delivery models could be best integrated into clinical practice. 20 While there are some studies examining the acceptability of case-finding for COPD, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] there is a paucity of literature looking at the acceptability of multidisciplinary models of care in the management of COPD once the diagnosis has been made. 16 This study is important, as there is currently no published literature on the acceptability of a GP-physiotherapist partnership as well as the acceptability of this model in an Australian primary care setting.…”