ArticleBMC family practice2017
Self-treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requires more than symptom recognition - a qualitative study of COPD patients' perspectives on self-treatment.
Article in BMC family practice, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Salford Lung Study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (SLS COPD): follow-up interviews on patient-centred outcomes.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2017Trial
- The Miasma Mentality: Investigating the Association Between Beliefs in Noxious Fumes and Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Symptoms, and Quality of Life.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
- Exploring patients' and carers' experiences, understandings and expectations of COPD exacerbations:an interview study.BJGP open · 2025Article
- A Qualitative Study Identifying the Potential Risk Mechanisms Leading to Hospitalization for Patients With Chronic Lung Disease.CHEST pulmonary · 2024Article
- Delineating and clarifying the concept of self-care monitoring: a concept analysis.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2023Review
- Perception of burden of oral and inhaled corticosteroid adverse effects on asthma-specific quality of life.Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology · 2023Article
- Care-seeking and delay of care during COPD exacerbations.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2022Observational
- Supporting Behavior Change After AECOPD - Development of a Hospital-Initiated Intervention Using the Behavior Change Wheel.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2022Article
- Advanced nursing practice in COPD exacerbations: the solution for a gap in Switzerland?ERJ open research · 2020Article
- Compliance and Utility of a Smartphone App for the Detection of Exacerbations in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Cohort Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Article
- Inflammation and infections in unreported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSelf-treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce hospitalization rates, mortality and health costs. However, for reasons little understood, the effect of self-treatment, particularly when not part of comprehensive self-management programs, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to get insight into the patients' perspective on self-treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD, focusing specifically on how patients decide for the right moment to start treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids, what they consider important when making this decision and aspects which might interfere with successful implementation.
methodsWe interviewed 19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using qualitative semi-structured interviews, and applied thematic analysis for data analysis.
resultsPatients were well equipped with experiential knowledge to recognize and promptly respond to worsening COPD symptoms. Worries regarding potential adverse effects of antibiotics and oral corticosteroids played an important role in the decision to start treatment and could result in hesitation to start treatment. Although self-treatment represented a practical and appreciated option for some patients with predictable symptom patterns and treatment effect, all patients favoured assistance from a medical professional when their perceived competence reached its limits. However, a feeling of obligation to succeed with self-treatment or distrust in their doctors or the health care system could keep patients from timely help seeking.
conclusionCOPD patients regard self-treatment of exacerbations with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids as a valuable alternative. How they engage in self-treatment depends on their concerns regarding the medications' adverse effects as well as on their understanding of and preferences for self-treatment as a means of health care. Caregivers should address these perspectives in a collaborative approach when offering COPD patients the opportunity for self-treatment of exacerbations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.