Variation in information needs of patients with interstitial lung disease and their family caregivers according to long-term oxygen therapy: a descriptive study.

backgroundThe information needs of patients and their families regarding interstitial lung disease (ILD) have yet to be studied in detail, and few reports have examined the differences in information needs according to patient status. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in information needs between outpatients with ILD and their family caregivers and whether these differences depend on long-term oxygen therapy use.

methodsPatients with fibrotic ILDs and their families who visited Kyoto University Hospital between February 2020 and March 2022 were recruited for this descriptive study. Fibrotic ILDs included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) than IPF, connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD), and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonia. Data were obtained from electronic patient records and questionnaires. Descriptive data analyses were performed.

resultsSixty-five patients and their family caregivers were analyzed. Twenty-seven (41.5%) patients had IIPs (IPF 9 and other IIPs 18), 34 (52.3%) had CTD-ILD, and 4 (6.2%) had fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonia. The most common relationship between the patient and their family was a spouse (67.7%), with 80% living together. The primary information needs among patients and their family caregivers were common up to the third rank but differed from the rest. Patients were interested in "when and where to contact health care providers" and "end-of-life care and advanced directives," while family caregivers were interested in "diet and nutrition" and "care and support at home." Patients with long-term oxygen therapy had higher needs for "end-of-life care and advanced directives" and "how to manage breathlessness, cough, and fatigue," while the needs for "drugs for ILD" and "acute exacerbation of ILD" were relatively low. Family caregivers were interested in "diet and nutrition" in the long-term oxygen therapy group and "acute exacerbation of ILD" in the no long-term oxygen therapy group.

conclusionsThis study found that the information needs of patients and their family caregivers were not the same and that the aspect of information needs differed by long-term oxygen therapy status. Healthcare providers should consider the position of the recipient of information, the appropriate time based on the patient's condition, and the necessary information.