Abstract
Purpose
Cough is part of the daily life of patients with Cystic fibrosis (CF) and its most common symptom. This study explored the experiences of adolescents with CF in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to their cough.
Design and methods
In this qualitative study, we conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with 21 adolescents with CF. We analyzed the data thematically.
Results
We identified three main themes among adolescents with CF in relation to coughing: 1. Cough is a permanent companion; 2. Coughing raises fear of double stigma; 3. Patients’ individualized coping strategies to deal with coughing. Participants complained that cough interrupted daily tasks and sleep, drew unwanted attention in public places, and elicited questions about whether they were COVID-19 patients or substance users—both highly stigmatized identities.
Conclusion
Although coughing is a protective mechanism for CF patients, frequent coughing often causes major challenges, particularly during the COVID pandemic, when people were acutely sensitive and aware about coughing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to taking care of themselves and managing the disease, CF patients therefore had to also overcome issues related to social stigma and isolation.
Practice implications
Healthcare workers play an important role in increasing public awareness about CF and its symptoms, including cough. During the pandemic, healthcare workers can help reduce the stigma of coughing through public education. Healthcare workers can actively communicate with patients to identify severe and ineffective cases of cough due to exacerbation of the disease and refer them to a specialist.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, cough, Adolescent, cystic fibrosis, social stigma, Qualitative thematic analysis, 【초록키워드】 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic, Symptom, Symptoms, healthcare worker, COVID, Iran, Practice, Patient, Isolation, Care, patients, COVID-19 patient, Coping strategy, protective mechanism, help, participant, coughing, implication, raise, Result, analyzed, identify, addition, the disease, conducted, question, overcome, cause, reduce, elicited, 【제목키워드】 fibrosis, thematic analysis, nightmare,