Experience of People Living in Social Life with Receiving Home Oxygen Therapy

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to clarify the experiences of people receiving home oxygen therapy (HOT) including how they live their social life and what kind of feelings they have.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted using semi-structured interviews with nine people who have received HOT.

Results: The following categories, indicated with double quotes, were identified : In their “social life in which they distance themselves from people due to the hassle of HOT” they felt numerous burdens, yet they were trying to find how to connect with society; in their “social life that they have been continuing” each individual’s uniquely devised ways were found in order to continue working and hobbies; and in their “new social life that they create” their experiences of considering where to put themselves based on the readjustment of roles and relationships with others became clear.

Conclusion: The HOT recipients’ participation in social life constituted the experience of exercising their own creativity while striking a balance between figuring out the best way to maintain their social life and their various emotions and the bodily symptoms caused by engaging with others and the surroundings. To realize the social life desired by HOT recipients it is important to raise awareness of HOT not only among those who are close to them but also in society as a whole.