Patient perceptions of vulnerability to recurrent respiratory tract infections and prevention strategies; a qualitative study
Patient perceptions of vulnerability to recurrent respiratory tract infections and prevention strategies; a qualitative study
Objectives Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are extremely common, usually self-limiting, but responsible for considerable work sickness absence, reduced quality of life, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and healthcare costs. Patients who experience recurrent RTIs and those with certain comorbid conditions have higher personal impact and healthcare costs and may be more likely to suffer disease exacerbations, hospitalisation and death. We explored how these patients experience and perceive their RTIs to understand how best to engage them in prevention behaviours. Design A qualitative interview study. Setting Primary care, UK. Methods 23 participants who reported recurrent RTIs and/or had relevant comorbid health conditions were interviewed about their experiences of RTIs. Interviews took place as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were developed: Understanding causes and vulnerability, Attempting to prevent RTIs, Uncertainty and ambivalence about prevention, along with an overarching theme; Changing experiences because of COVID-19. Participants' understandings of their susceptibility to RTIs were multifactorial and included both transmission via others and personal vulnerabilities. They engaged in various approaches to try to prevent infections or alter their progression yet perceived they had limited personal control. The COVID-19 pandemic had improved their understanding of transmission, heightened their concern and motivation to avoid RTIs and extended their repertoire of protective behaviours. Conclusions Patients who experience frequent or severe RTIs are likely to welcome and benefit from advice and support regarding RTI prevention. To engage people effectively, those developing interventions or delivering health services must consider their beliefs and concerns about susceptibility and prevention.
COVID-19, preventive medicine, primary care, public health, qualitative research, respiratory infections
e055565
Dennison, Laura
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Williamson, Sian
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Greenwell, Kate
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Handcock, Molly
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Bradbury, Katherine
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Vennik, Jane
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Yardley, Lucy
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Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Geraghty, Adam
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
20 April 2022
Dennison, Laura
15c399cb-9a81-4948-8906-21944c033c20
Williamson, Sian
b6977ce7-16bf-4dde-92f4-18abe85ad093
Greenwell, Kate
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Handcock, Molly
d3207cdd-b28e-4719-a763-0bf49c7f6a0b
Bradbury, Katherine
87fce0b9-d9c5-42b4-b041-bffeb4430863
Vennik, Jane
6ee78166-5a7a-433b-87fc-018771f20b19
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Geraghty, Adam
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
Dennison, Laura, Williamson, Sian, Greenwell, Kate, Handcock, Molly, Bradbury, Katherine, Vennik, Jane, Yardley, Lucy, Little, Paul and Geraghty, Adam
(2022)
Patient perceptions of vulnerability to recurrent respiratory tract infections and prevention strategies; a qualitative study.
BMJ Open, 12 (4), , [e055565].
(doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055565).
Abstract
Objectives Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are extremely common, usually self-limiting, but responsible for considerable work sickness absence, reduced quality of life, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and healthcare costs. Patients who experience recurrent RTIs and those with certain comorbid conditions have higher personal impact and healthcare costs and may be more likely to suffer disease exacerbations, hospitalisation and death. We explored how these patients experience and perceive their RTIs to understand how best to engage them in prevention behaviours. Design A qualitative interview study. Setting Primary care, UK. Methods 23 participants who reported recurrent RTIs and/or had relevant comorbid health conditions were interviewed about their experiences of RTIs. Interviews took place as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were developed: Understanding causes and vulnerability, Attempting to prevent RTIs, Uncertainty and ambivalence about prevention, along with an overarching theme; Changing experiences because of COVID-19. Participants' understandings of their susceptibility to RTIs were multifactorial and included both transmission via others and personal vulnerabilities. They engaged in various approaches to try to prevent infections or alter their progression yet perceived they had limited personal control. The COVID-19 pandemic had improved their understanding of transmission, heightened their concern and motivation to avoid RTIs and extended their repertoire of protective behaviours. Conclusions Patients who experience frequent or severe RTIs are likely to welcome and benefit from advice and support regarding RTI prevention. To engage people effectively, those developing interventions or delivering health services must consider their beliefs and concerns about susceptibility and prevention.
Text
DENNISON BMJ OPEN - Patient Perceptions of Vulnerability
- Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 20 March 2022
Published date: 20 April 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
Funding This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) Programme (Grant Reference Number RP-PG-0218-20005). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. LY is an NIHR Senior Investigator and her research programme is partly supported by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)-West, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) for Behavioural Science and Evaluation and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Keywords:
COVID-19, preventive medicine, primary care, public health, qualitative research, respiratory infections
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Local EPrints ID: 456396
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/456396
ISSN: 2044-6055
PURE UUID: 8d8c2222-8a8a-432e-a8a7-3ef5da6f7452
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Date deposited: 27 Apr 2022 15:45
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:57
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Author:
Molly Handcock
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