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Chronic rhinosinusitis: patient experiences of primary and secondary care – a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Erskine S.E.,
Verkerk M.M.,
Notley C.,
Williamson I.G.,
Philpott C.M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.12462
Subject(s) - medicine , thematic analysis , referral , psychosocial , qualitative research , quality of life (healthcare) , chronic rhinosinusitis , disease , primary care , family medicine , nursing , psychiatry , social science , sociology
Objectives To explore the experience of CRS and its management from the perspective of patients with CRS . To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study exploring sinus disease. Design Semi‐structured qualitative interviews. Setting ENT outpatient clinic. Participants Twenty‐one adult patients with CRS : 11 male, 10 female. Patients suffered from a range of types of CRS (including polyps and fungal disease) and differing durations of symptoms (1.5–47 years). Participants were purposively selected. Thematic analysis was used. Outcome measures Patient experience of CRS and its management. Results Patients had concerns regarding management of their symptoms by both healthcare professionals and themselves, including delays to referral and repeated medications. They reported reduced quality of life and high financial and psychosocial costs associated with living with CRS . Conclusions Despite guidelines for CRS treatment, outcomes remain variable leading to dissatisfaction with treatment. Adherence to existing guidelines may result in fewer repeated consultations in primary care and earlier referrals to secondary care.