Summary of overview of qualitative systematic reviews and metasyntheses of experiences of COPD
| Review | Year | Type of review | Phenomena of interest | Number of qualitative studies included | Key aim(s) | Quality score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gysels et al64 (UK) | 2007 | Qualitative systematic review with thematic analysis of qualitative studies | Experiences of breathlessness | 22 | Synthesise qualitative evidence about breathlessness as a common symptom of multiple conditions, including COPD (and CHF) | 83% H |
| Cullen and Stiffler65 (USA) | 2009 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Experiences of oxygen therapy | 4 | Identify and characterise new evidence about patients’ perspectives on oxygen therapy in COPD and other conditions to guide intervention development | 83% H |
| Disler et al66 (Australia) | 2011 | Mixed methods (integrative) review | Factors that promote or inhibit self-care | 13/44 | Identify and characterise factors that influence self-care in COPD | 88% H |
| Keating et al67 (Australia) | 2011 | Mixed methods (integrative) review | Barriers to participation in rehabilitation | 5/11 | Identify and characterise factors that affect attendance and participation in pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD | 88% H |
| Kirkpatrick et al68 (UK) | 2012 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Patients and caregivers’ perceptions of support | 39 | Identify and characterise forms and experiences of support for people with COPD from informal and formal caregivers, and identify and characterise those forms of support believed to be beneficial | 77% M |
| Giacomini et al69 (Canada) | 2012 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Experiences of living and dying with COPD | 101 | Synthesise studies of people with COPD and their informal caregivers, identify and characterise insights into their experiences and inform future interventions | 88% H |
| Thorpe et al70 (Australia) | 2012 | Mixed methods (integrative) review | Participation in physical activity | 8/11 | Identify and characterise barriers and enablers of participation in physical activity, including pulmonary rehabilitation, among people with COPD | 94% H |
| Langer et al71 (UK) | 2012 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Use of unscheduled/emergency care in long-term conditions | 5/42 | Identify and characterise the range of psychosocial and other influences on use of unscheduled care by people with long-term conditions, including COPD and CHF | 83% H |
| Momen et al72 UK | 2012 | Qualitative systematic literature review and narrative synthesis | End-of-life conversations | 12/30 | Identify factors that promote or inhibit discussions of management of end of life in COPD | 66% M |
| De Souza Pinto et al73 (Spain) | 2013 | Meta-ethnography | Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation | 8 | Explore the lived experience of COPD and identifying positive and negative aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation from the perspective of people with COPD | 94% H |
| Harrison et al74 (UK) | 2013 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Impact of acute exacerbation events in COPD | 8 | Identify and characterise people's experiences of exacerbation events that inhibit engagement with pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD | 100% H |
| Disler et al75 (Australia) | 2014 | Qualitative metasynthesis | Lived experience of COPD | 22 | Identify and characterise the lived experience of COPD and inform the development of healthcare services | 83% H |
| Oishi et al76 (UK) | 2014 | Mixed methods (integrative) review | Provision of palliative care for patients with non-cancer | 17/30 | Identify and characterise aspects of professional role, performance and barriers and facilitators to primary palliative care | 77% M |
CHF, chronic heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.