Healthcare experiences of adults with COPD across community care settings: a meta-ethnography

Studies investigating lived experiences of patients with COPD raise important concerns about interactions with healthcare professionals. Patients often describe feelings of guilt and shame associated with their COPD and may experience stigma and poor patient experience of care. The aims and objectives of the present study were to systematically scope and synthesise findings from peer-reviewed qualitative studies describing healthcare experiences of patients living with COPD across community care settings.

A meta-ethnography was undertaken. Database searches were performed in Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Ovid Emcare, CINAHL Plus and Sociological Abstracts. Eligible qualitative studies were included. Study screening and data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. A "line-of-argument" synthesis and deductive and inductive analysis was used to identify key themes, where the deductive element aligned to Wong and Haggerty's six key dimensions of patient experiences.

Data from 23 studies were included. Experiences and their meaning to patients were explored within the context of six domains of patient experience including access, interpersonal communication, continuity and coordination, comprehensiveness and trust. Inductive coding revealed emotion, stigma, identity and vulnerability shaped healthcare experiences of adults with COPD.

Experiences often fell short of what was expected and needed in community settings. Adopting strategies to improve experiences of care in the community can be expected to improve self-management and contribute to improved health outcomes and quality of life. These strategies should take account of vulnerability, stigma and emotions such as guilt and blame that are potent affective drivers of the experience of care for patients with COPD.