Unveiling the burden of COPD: perspectives on a patient-reported outcome measure to support communication in outpatient consultations-an interview study among patients.
Louise Muxoll Gronhaug, Ingeborg Farver-Vestergaard, Jannie Christina Frølund and 2 others
PMID 39318539WHAT IT FOUND
Nine COPD patients described how a pre-visit questionnaire helped them identify and disclose hidden psychosocial struggles like loneliness and depression.
They valued clinicians asking direct follow-up questions based on these answers, which made conversations feel deeper and more personal.
Key findings
01Completing the questionnaire before the visit prompted patients to reflect on and identify previously overlooked psychosocial issues, such as loneliness, depression, and intimacy problems.
02Patients felt that clinicians using the questionnaire responses to ask direct questions during the consultation helped 'break the ice' and legitimize discussions about sensitive topics they had never raised before.
03Some patients admitted to hiding or sugarcoating their true feelings in the questionnaire due to discomfort, stigma, or self-blame, suggesting the tool alone does not guarantee disclosure without a trusting clinician interaction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only nine patients from a single clinic, limiting transferability. Participants were recruited by the same coordinator who managed the PRO-Pall integration, introducing potential selection bias toward patients who were already engaged or satisfied with the process. The study did not measure whether this communication approach improved actual health outcomes or well-being, only patient perceptions of the interaction. Existential issues were not discussed in any consultation, so the tool's ability to address this domain remains untested.
Declared interests
The study was conducted as part of a national launch of the PRO-Pall instrument in Denmark. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that providing a questionnaire alone will reveal hidden patient concerns. Two patients admitted to hiding their true feelings in the survey, and the study shows that the value came from clinicians actively using the responses to ask direct, empathetic questions during the visit.