Breathlessness Descriptors in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Versus Congestive Heart Failure

<p>This cross-sectional descriptive study investigated breathlessness (dyspnea) in stable patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). The purpose of this study was (a) to characterize the most common terms COPD and CHF patients use to describe their breathing, (b) to identify the frequency of dyspnea in patients with COPD and CHF, and (c) to determine the intensity of dyspnea in these populations.</p> <p>A purposive sample of 60 patients, 30 with moderate to severe COPD and 30 patients with moderate to severe CHF, met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this study. The participants provided subjective information about their breathing discomfort by answering the Demographic Questionnaire and (b) Interview questionnaire developed by the researcher, (c) Endorsing terms from a list of descriptors, and (d) General dyspnea questionnaire from the Pulmonary Function Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire. Data was collected in an outpatient Pulmonary and CHF clinic of a Medical Center.</p> <p>The results indicated that patients with COPD and CHF chose different the terms to describe their breathing discomfort. There was no significant difference between the incidence (χ² = 2.080, p = .195) and frequency (ṯ = 0.270, ք = .788) patients with COPD and CHF experience dyspnea. Participants with COPD reported significantly more dyspnea intensity ()than CHF in three different situations (COPD:CHF): (a) "past year" (ṯ = 2.426, ք = .018), (b) "today" (ṯ = 2.459, ք = .017), (c) most day-to-day activities COPD (ṯ = 2.499, ք = .015 ).</p> <p>The findings support the notion of previous studies regarding the breathlessness descriptors. Individuals with certain health conditions use (a) terms that are unique to describe their breathing experience, (b) choose more than one term (c) and use similar terms to describe their breathing experience. This study identified affective descriptors were among breathlessness descriptors in both groups. The frequency and intensity of dyspnea among COPD and CHF, had not been reported in previous studies, were identified.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year

2001

Author dc:creator

• de Souza Caroci, Adelaide

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lois J. Van Cleve
• Elizabeth A. Bossert
• Margareth Burns
• Suzanne Lareau

• Critical Care Nursing
• Nursing
• Respiratory Tract Diseases
• Lung Diseases; Obstructive -- symptoms; Dyspnea; Respiration; Heart Failure; Congestive -- Symptoms.

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1366

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2139