Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as Disability: Dilemma Stories

• Published in: Qualitative health research Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 187 - 198
• Main Authors: McMillan Boyles, Christina, Hill Bailey, Patricia, Mossey, Sharolyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2011; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Anthropology, Cultural; Canada; Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic sickness; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Disability; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Health Status; Health technology assessment; Humans; Justification; Meaning; Narration; Narratives; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - psychology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - therapy; Qualitative Research; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Canada; respiratory disorders; qualitative; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); disability; narrative analysis; illness and disease; chronic; research
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732310383865

The purpose of this work was to develop an understanding of the meaning of disability for individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a Canadian midwestern community from an emic perspective. A focused ethnographic design was used. Fifteen individuals participated in interviews. Narrative analysis was used to examine the interview data. Data analysis revealed 65 dilemma stories consisting of two structural components: the impairment, and the justification/explanation of the impairment. Participants’ impairment might or might not have been known to others. In both situations, individuals were faced with choices of whether to explain/justify or attempt to conceal the impairment. Participants told these dilemma stories to convey the meaning of COPD as a disability invisible to others, and at times, to themselves. The information gained from this research will serve as an essential complement to the existing knowledge about this important yet often invisible chronic illness.