Self-treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requires more than symptom recognition – a qualitative study of COPD patients’ perspectives on self-treatment

Table 1 Participant demographics

Participant	Sex	Age range	Civil status	Residence	FEV₁/FVC
1^a	male	55–59	married	urban	32%
2^a	male	70–74	married	rural	98%
3^a	female	75–79	widow	rural	34%
4^a	female	70–74	married	rural	39%
5^a	male	60–64	partner	urban	37%
6^a	male	65–69	married	urban	45%
7^a	female	60–64	divorced	rural	59%
8^a	male	65–69	single	urban	63%
9	male	60–64	married	rural	n.a.
10	male	70–74	married	urban	47%
11	female	65–69	divorced	rural	39%
12	female	75–79	married	urban	91%
13	female	55–59	single	rural	84%
14	male	55–59	single	rural	n.a.
15	male	65–69	married	urban	45%
16^a	female	70–74	married	urban	n.a.
17^a	male	60–64	partner	urban	20%
18^a	male	70–74	widow	rural	22%
19^a	male	60–64	single	urban	64%

FEV ₁ /FVC forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity, n.a. not available zzzz
^a participants who have received antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids for AECOPD self-treatment and whose interviews were coded in detail

ISSN: 2731-4553