I can not get a breath: experiences of living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study aims to explore the potential for palliative care amongpeople living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Individual semi-structured interviews (n = 13) were conductedwith people who had a diagnosis of advanced COPD and were onoptimal tolerated drug therapy, with their breathing volume (forcedexpiratory volume at less than 30%) or were on long-term oxygentherapy or non-invasion ventilation. Participants raised concerns aboutthe uncertain trajectory of the illness and reported unmet palliativecare needs with poor access to palliative care services. For mostpeople, palliative care was associated with end of life; therefore, theywere unwilling to discuss the issue. There was a wide acceptance that,medically, nothing more could be done. Findings also suggest thatpatients had unmet palliative care needs, requiring information andsupport. The research suggests the need for palliative care to beextended to all (regardless of diagnosis), with packages of caredeveloped to target specifi c needs.