SEVERE COPD IN PATIENT'S EVERY DAY LIFE

Merja Kanervisto, RN MNSc, Doctoral student & Eija Paavilainen RN, PhD, Professor, University of Tampere, Department of Nursing Science, Finland.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) is a slowly progressive airway disease that produces a decline in lung function that is not fully reversible. The most important risk factor for copd is cigarette smoking. In Finland copd continues to rise and there are approximately 200 000 Finns suffering from severe copd. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of managing in every day life of severely ill copd patients.

The data were obtained from 9 participants using thematic personal interviews, and were analyzed with deductive content analysis.

The results describe the dependence upon long-term oxygen therapy, factors for an advantage for the body, the independence upon managing in everyday life and dependence upon other family members, and place meaning of a good nurse-patient relationship.  Knowledge about copd is warranted, so the patients get the care they need. There is a need of counselling abilities for nursing practitioners, they need also enough information about different facts of rehabilitation and patients' family members need support for their own resources from nursing practitioners.

Back to Abstracts Menu