Patients’ experiences of managing COPD-related anxiety in pulmonary rehabilitation

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is a wide variation in rehabilitation outcomes among patients with COPD. Partly due to the inhibitory effect of COPD-related anxiety on exercise and daily activities. <bold>Aim:</bold> To explore patients’ experiences with COPD-related anxiety management during a community-based PR program. <bold>Methods:</bold> The study utilized a phenomenological approach through semi-structured interviews. Between August and November 2022 thirteen patients with moderate to very severe COPD were individually interviewed after they completed a 9-week community-based PR program. Data were analyzed using a Braun and Clarke inspired thematic analysis method. <bold>Results:</bold> Four interrelated strategies for managing COPD-related anxiety during PR were identified: <italic>1) Planning strategy, 2) Solution-oriented strategy, 3) Accepting strategy, and 4) Confronting strategy.</italic> These strategies developed indirectly through the program from interactions with healthcare professionals, encounters with other patients, and experiences of exercise and COPD-related anxiety, rather than being explicitly introduced by healthcare providers. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Different interrelated strategies are applied when managing COPD-related anxiety in PR. These findings can be used to help design useful and tailor-made components in PR. Further studies, testing the outcomes of PR when specifically targeting management of COPD-related anxiety, are needed.