What can we learn from patients to improve their non-invasive ventilation experience? 'It was unpleasant; if I was offered it again, I would do what I was told'.
OBJECTIVES
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is widely used as a lifesaving treatment in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, little is known about the patients' experience of this treatment. This study was designed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of participants using NIV. The study interprets the participants' views and explores implications for clinical practice.


METHODS
Participants with respiratory failure requiring NIV were interviewed 2 weeks after discharge. A grounded theory methodology was used to order and sort the data. Theoretical sufficiency was achieved after 15 participants.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged from the data: levels of discomfort with NIV, cognitive experiences with NIV, NIV as a life saver and concern for others. NIV was uncomfortable for participants and affected their cognition; they still reported considering NIV as a viable option for future treatment. Participants described a high level of trust in healthcare professionals and delegated decision-making to them regarding ongoing care.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides insights into ways clinicians could improve the physical experience for patients with NIV. It also identifies a lack of recall and delegation of decision-making, highlighting the need for clinical leadership to advocate for patients.
['Beckert|Lutz|L|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2688-9325', 'Wiseman|Rachel|R|', 'Pitama|Suzanne|S|', 'Landers|Amanda|A|']
D000368:Aged D003657:Decision Making D005260:Female D066296:Grounded Theory D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D063087:Noninvasive Ventilation D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive D036301:Qualitative Research D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency
NIV BiPAP COPD Patient's Perspective Qualitative Research