The patient experience of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Australian general practice: A multi-methods investigation

Studies of adults living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) reveal challenges when interacting with healthcare providers which may be exacerbated by difficulties in quitting smoking. The thesis comprised four papers that provide a comprehensive description of patient experience, focusing on primary care patients with COPD who report a history of smoking. Stigma and fear of judgement were important underlying drivers of care experiences that contributed to delayed help seeking from GPs. Perceptions of vulnerability were magnified due to the COVID19 pandemic. Proactive and empathetic care from GPs were important in positive depictions of care experience for this group.