Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences and self-management approaches adopted by people with interstitial lung disease.

2024

Tikellis, Gabriella

Corte, Tamera

Glaspole, Ian N

Goh, Nicole S L

Khor, Yet H

Wrobel, Jeremy

Symons, Karen

Fuhrmeister, Lisa

Glenn, Laura

Chirayath, Shiji

Troy, Lauren K

King, Bill

Holland, Anne E

COVID-19 pandemic

Interstitial lung disease

isolation

pulmonary fibrosis

qualitative

self-management

Journal Article

0000-0002-5154-6658

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10.1177/14799731231226236

People with interstitial lung disease (ILD) were deemed more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and isolated as a means of reducing risk of infection. This study examined the impact of the pandemic on daily life, psychological wellbeing and access to healthcare and identified approaches undertaken to remain safe. Four specialist clinics in tertiary centres in Australia (Victoria: two sites; New South Wales: one site; Western Australia: one site) recruited patients with ILD during an 8-week period from March 2021. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with transcripts analysed using principles of grounded theory. Ninety participants were interviewed between April and December 2021. Participants were predominantly female, former smokers with an average age of 66 years. IPF and connective tissue-ILD being the most common subtypes. Five main themes were identified: vulnerability reduced social interaction and isolation, access to healthcare services and support, staying active, emotional and psychological impact. Self-management strategies included staying active both physically and mentally. Self-management was key to managing the impact of the pandemic. In combination with advances in technology, implementation of strategies for monitoring wellbeing and support for self-management provides an opportunity to leverage the lessons learnt to ensure a more individualised model of care for people with ILD.

link

Chronic Respiratory Disease 2024; 21

Chronic Respiratory Disease

1479-9731