The experience of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis living through the Covid-19 pandemic

<bold>Aims:</bold> To explore the experiences of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) living through the Covid-19 pandemic. Design. A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews. <bold>Methods:</bold> Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 13 participants with IPF attending the respiratory department of a large urban teaching hospital in Ireland. Data were collected between December 2020 and January 2021 through semi-structured interviews using an online platform. Thematic analysis was used as the method for analysis. <bold>Results:</bold> Four key themes were identified: (1) fear of contracting Covid-19, (2) living with reduced social interaction, (3) the adjustment in the relationship with healthcare professionals and (4) navigating an altered landscape. Living through the pandemic with a life-limiting condition like IPF presented additional challenges to a vulnerable group of people where elements of social isolation and loneliness were shown to exist. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The study revealed that people with IPF have a heightened fear and anxiety related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare professionals have a key role in protecting the physical and psychological health of the person with IPF during this time and into the future. Through being cognizant of the additional supportive care needs of people with IPF, healthcare professional can focus on developing targeted interventions aimed to enhance the care provided.