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Table 1 Sub-themes of the theme ‘level of understanding of terms’

From: Renaming COPD exacerbations: the UK respiratory nursing perspective

Sub-theme

Quote

‘Exacerbation’ is widely recognised in COPD

Exacerbation is mentioned in the COPD care plan’ and ‘pulmonary rehab mentions exacerbation’.

Patients understand but often don’t understand that they can just have a worsening of usual symptoms & therefore will associate with antibiotic use with exacerbation’

Flare up is a familiar term

‘Flare-up is easy to understand, it is a term some have heard used for Arthritis and Asthma’

Patients may need to be taught what the term ‘exacerbation’ means

‘Patients understand the term flare up much better’

‘Chest infection’ is a misplaced term in describing ‘exacerbations’

‘Exacerbation’- I like this as it leads nicely into explaining what the umbrella term means.

‘I think chest infection is an inaccurate description of what is often going on’

‘Avoid use of chest infection as implies need for antibiotics which are not always required’

The use of ‘lung attack’ is widely promoted

‘Flare-up is easy to understand, it is a term some have heard used for Arthritis and Asthma’

‘Patients understand the term flare up much better’

‘consistent language with the British lung foundation’

‘Crisis’ is unfamiliar to respiratory nurses but it has potential to make an impact

‘I like the term crisis- it isn’t all encompassing as in mild crisis?’

Does work, you don’t really hear the term mild heart attack. It’s a heart attack or not’