Dyspnea self-management in African Americans with chronic lung disease


Author: Nield M

Affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California at Los Angeles, CA 90095-6917, USA.
Conference/Journal: Heart Lung
Date published: 2000
Other:
 Volume ID: 29   ,  Issue ID: 1   ,  Pages: 50-55   ,  Word Count: 130  
    PURPOSE: To explore dyspnea self-management in African Americans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic restrictive pulmonary disease resulting from sarcoidosis. DESIGN: Descriptive. 

SAMPLE:
Convenience sample of 29 African Americans, 15 with COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity = 53%), and 14 with sarcoidosis (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity = 88%; total lung capacity 62.4% of predicted). METHODS: Semistructured interviews.

FINDINGS: Content analysis revealed 4 dyspnea self-management themes: (1)traditional medical care, (2) self-care wisdom, (3) self-care action, and (4) self-care resources. Breathing strategies (a subtheme for self-care action) for patients with COPD focused on both inhalation and exhalation, whereas patients with sarcoidosis described inhalation breathing strategies only.

CONCLUSION: African Americans with chronic lung disease described use of different breathing strategies for COPD and sarcoidosis disorders. Both groups actively engaged in health-promotin  activities for dyspnea management.