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A. Lee1,2, R. Smith1, L. Burr3, A. Chang3, C.-L. Holmes-Lieu3, L. Jayaram3, P. King3, P. Middleton3, L. Morgan3, T. Nguyen3, D. Smith3, E. Stroil-Salama3, R. Thomson3, J. Waring3, G. Waterer3, C. Wong3, R. McAleer4
1Monash University, Physiotherapy, Melbourne, Australia, 2Cabrini Health, Cabrini Allied Health Research and Education, Melbourne, Australia, 3Lung Foundation Australia, Australian Bronchiectasis Registry, Sydney, Australia, 4La Trobe University, La Trobe Rural Health School, Bendigo, Australia
Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for people with bronchiectasis. A mix of education topics are generally included but subject choice is largely informed by focal areas of interest or management strategies relevant for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease. Establishing the needs of people with bronchiectasis maximises the educational opportunity within a pulmonary rehabilitation setting. However, the topics of education relevant to this population are unknown.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the perspective of people with bronchiectasis on educational topics of interest which could be included within pulmonary rehabilitation.
Methods: Participants with bronchiectasis who were included in the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry were invited to undertake a semi-structured interview. Interview transcripts were coded independently and themes established by consensus between two investigators.
Results: Twenty-one people participated (mean (SD) age 75(12) years, FEV1 83.3(26.4) % predicted). Major themes from the interviews were greater clarity on the underlying cause of their condition and its prognosis. Most participants sought knowledge about self-management strategies and treatment suggestions to address extra-pulmonary symptoms. Participants required more information on the various options for airway clearance therapy and the role of exercise therapy and physical activity outside of a formal pulmonary rehabilitation program. Preferences were mixed for the education delivery model, with some preferring a group setting with mixed diagnosis, others favouring those with a similar diagnosis and a small proportion desiring one to one education sessions.
Conclusion(s): The unmet education needs of people with bronchiectasis provides a foundation for the development of education topics and material which could be offered within a pulmonary rehabilitation setting.
Implications: Current topics included as part of education sessions in pulmonary rehabilitation may not meet the needs of people with bronchiectasis. Additional topics specific to this population have been identified and will inform the development of educational materials which may be applied by physiotherapists for people with bronchiectasis in this setting.
Funding, acknowledgements: This study was not funded.
Keywords: Bronchiectasis, Education, Physiotherapy
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Monash University
Committee: Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 18416
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
