Internet accessibility and willingness of patients with chronic respiratory disease to use an internet-based breathlessness self-management intervention

Introduction: Breathlessness support services for patients with chronic breathlessness improve patients' self-management and reduce their distress due to breathlessness. The provision and access to such services within the UK's National Health Service is limited. Delivering online breathlessness supportive services maybe one way of improving access to non-pharmacological self-management interventions for people living with chronic breathlessness. Aim: To explore internet accessibility and willingness of patients with chronic respiratory disease to use an internet-based breathlessness selfmanagement intervention. Methods: Patients attending 3-specialist respiratory outpatient services at a large NHS Foundation Trust over a 2-week period (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) completed a standardised questionnaire regarding internet accessibility. The questionnaire asked;if the patient had internet access, modes of accessing the internet, frequency of internet use and if they would use an internet based breathlessness support service. Results: 46 patients (COPD: 19, Bronchiectasis: 22, Asthma: 4), 17 male, with a median (range) age 68 (41 - 86) years, MRC Dyspnoea Score of 2 (2-4) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 35 (76%) patients had access to the internet at home;28 (61%) accessed the internet daily;and 26 (57%) had two or more modes of accessing the internet. Of the 35 patients with home internet access, 33 (94%) reported that they would use an internet-based breathlessness self-management intervention, if available. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that patients that have access to the internet would use an internet-based breathlessness selfmanagement intervention, if given the opportunity.