TY - JOUR T1 - ‘It’s difficult, it’s life changing what happens to you’ patient perspective on life with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a qualitative study JF - BMJ Open Respiratory Research JO - BMJ Open Resp Res DO - 10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000522 VL - 6 IS - 1 SP - e000522 AU - Kerri I Aronson AU - Bradley J Hayward AU - Laura Robbins AU - Robert J Kaner AU - Fernando J Martinez AU - Monika M Safford Y1 - 2019/12/01 UR - http://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000522.abstract N2 - Rationale Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) is a distinct form of interstitial lung disease caused by an inhaled environmental antigen. Some patients with CHP develop progressive pulmonary fibrosis and varying degrees of symptom severity, with heterogeneous impact on functioning and overall well-being. There are no universally accepted diagnostic criteria, few FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration) therapies and no standardised approach to identifying an antigen. The impact that living with CHP has on patients’ quality of life is understudied, preventing the identification of patient-centred research questions and endpoints for future CHP clinical trials.Objectives We explored patients’ experiences, perceptions and expectations of living with CHP.Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with patients with CHP. Patients were recruited using a purposive heterogeneous sampling strategy. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using the grounded theory method.Results Eighteen patients were interviewed. Six major themes emerged from the interviews: (1) suffering due to lack of knowledge and uncertainty, (2) hypervigilance, (3) psychosocial, (4) physical impacts, (5) interpersonal and (6) self-perception and identity. The need to identify and avoid an antigen played a prominent role across the themes and subthemes.Conclusions We identified several key influences on quality of life in patients with CHP that have not been adequately explored. The prevalence of these influences should be quantified, and they should be included in quality of life assessment and should guide the development of targeted interventions to improve quality of life in this patient population. ER -