Support Needs of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma Throughout Their Patient Journey: A Qualitative Study

Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, pose a significant health risk due to the increasingly pronounced rise in its prevalence, associated complications and impact on patients' quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyse the needs of patients with COPD and asthma throughout their patient journey. To this end, a qualitative and cross-sectional study was conducted based on interviews and focus groups. 28 people took part, including patients, relatives and representatives of patient associations, and they were selected to ensure a diversity of perspectives. The data collected were analyzed by two psychologists with experience in qualitative research, who conducted thematic analysis and made use of data saturation criteria. The results emphasize that patient needs vary according to the stage of the disease. In the initial stage, patients find it difficult to identify symptoms and risk factors, and demand education on basic concepts and self-care strategies. When diagnosed, they require psycho-emotional support and training on the disease. Insufficient information, particularly concerning the use of inhalers and the different therapies, is a recurrent obstacle in treatment and monitoring. Furthermore, therapeutic nonadherence is affected by factors such as perception of the severity of the disease, related to the treatment and deficiencies in inhaler technique. Additionally, pulmonary rehabilitation and multidisciplinary care are unmet needs that have an impact on patients' quality of life. The study highlights the importance of personalizing interventions according to the stage of the patient journey, combining education, disease coping strategies and comprehensive monitoring. Patient groups play a key role as they are a source of emotional support, guidance and self-care. In conclusion, a proposal is made for a patient-centred approach that promotes self-management, equitable access to resources and coordination between healthcare teams to optimise integrated care in respiratory diseases. In this respect, it seems relevant and appropriate to develop training environments for patients diagnosed with asthma/COPD and their carers, where information and training are offered to support good disease management in the different stages of the patient journey.