Physiotherapy Department, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Australia.
Tasmanian School of Medicine College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Chronic Illn. 2024 Mar;20(1):96-104. doi: 10.1177/17423953231163450. Epub 2023 Mar 9.
People living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in regional communities experience a higher disease burden and have poorer access to support services. This study sought to investigate the acceptability of a peer-led self-management program (SMP) in regional Tasmania, Australia.
This descriptive qualitative study, underpinned by interpretivism used semi-structured one-to-one interviews to gather data to explore COPD patients' views of peer-led SMPs. Purposeful sampling recruited a sample of 8 women and 2 men. Data was analysed using a thematic approach.
The three final themes, 'Normality and Living with the disease', a 'Platform for sharing' and 'Communication mismatch' suggest that peer-led SMPs could offer an opportunity to share experiences. The themes also suggest that COPD often manifested as a deviation from 'normal life'. Communication was often felt to be ambiguous leading to tension between the health experts and people living with the condition.
Peer-led SMP has the potential to provide the much-needed support for people living with COPD in regional communities. This will ensure that they are empowered to live with the condition with dignity and respect. Benefits of exchanging ideas and socialisation should not be ignored and may enhance sustainability of SMPs.
居住在慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的地区社区的人会承受更高的疾病负担，且获得支持服务的机会较差。本研究旨在调查在澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚地区，同伴主导的自我管理计划（SMP）的可接受性。
本描述性定性研究以解释主义为基础，采用半结构式一对一访谈收集数据，以探讨 COPD 患者对同伴主导的 SMP 的看法。采用目的性抽样招募了 8 名女性和 2 名男性。使用主题方法进行数据分析。
三个最终主题，即“正常生活和疾病共存”、“分享的平台”和“沟通错位”，表明同伴主导的 SMP 可以提供分享经验的机会。这些主题还表明，COPD 通常表现为偏离“正常生活”。沟通常常被认为是模糊的，导致健康专家和患有该疾病的人之间产生紧张关系。
同伴主导的 SMP 有可能为地区社区中患有 COPD 的人提供急需的支持。这将确保他们有能力有尊严和尊重地生活。交流思想和社交的好处不应被忽视，并且可能增强 SMP 的可持续性。
