COVID-19 related concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions: a qualitative study
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
COVID‑19 related concerns of people with long‑term respiratory conditions: a qualitative study Keir E. J. Philip1,2* , Bradley Lonergan2, Andrew Cumella3, Joe Farrington‑Douglas3, Michael Laffan3 and Nicholas S. Hopkinson1,2,3
Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical con‑ ditions who appear to be particularly vulnerable. There are limited data on the specific concerns people have about COVID-19 and what these are based on. Methods: The aim of this study was to identify and explore the concerns of people with long-term respiratory condi‑ tions in the UK regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these concerns were affecting them. We conducted a thematic analysis of free text responses to the question “What are your main concerns about getting coronavirus?”, which was included in the British Lung Foundation/Asthma UK (BLF-AUK) partnership COVID-19 survey, conducted between the 1st and 8th of April 2020. This was during the 3rd week of the UK’s initial ‘social distancing measures’ which included advice to stay at home and only go outside for specific limited reasons. Results: 7039 responses were analysed, with respondents from a wide range of age groups (under 17 to over 80), gender, and all UK nations. Respondents reported having asthma (85%), COPD (9%), bronchiectasis (4%), interstitial lung disease (2%), or ‘other’ lung diseases (e.g. lung cancer) (1%). Four main themes were identified: (1) vulnerability to COVID-19; (2) anticipated experience of contracting COVID-19; (3) pervasive uncertainty; and (4) inadequate national response. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts. The concerns we identified largely reflect contextual factors, as well as their subjective experience of the current situation. Hence, key approaches to reducing these concerns require changes to the reality of their situation, and are likely to include (1) helping people optimise their health, limit risk of infection, and access necessities; (2) minimising the negative experience of disease where possible, (3) providing up-to-date, accurate and consistent information, (4) improving the government and healthcare response. Keywords: COVID, Coronavirus, Concerns, Mental health, Respiratory, Qualitative
*Correspondence: [email protected] 1 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having profound direct and indirect impacts on health and wellbeing. In particular features of stress, anxiety and depression are being reported in populations globally [1– 7], and individuals with a history of prior medical problems are particularly at risk [3, 8, 9]. This is of particular
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