Summary
breathlessness
DISEASE
This study examined the experiences of current care in 2020–2021 for patients and primary care clinicians navigating the journey from presentation with breathlessness to a possible diagnosis. The data provide novel insights into possible reasons for the delays to diagnosis for patients presenting with breathlessness. The combination of poor symptom recognition and delayed help seeking by patients, alongside an incremental approach to investigations, could lengthen the diagnostic process. Clinicians described challenges in explaining breathlessness associated with deconditioning when specific disease states had been investigated and excluded. This frequently led to difficulty in progressing to effective breathlessness management. Throughout the diagnostic journey, communication was key and there was clear indication that time pressures in primary care and lack of specialist support were an issue. While awaiting investigative results, provision of advice or information about low-risk, evidence-based strategies for relief of breathlessness appeared to be an unmet need for patients. To achieve better outcomes for patients with breathlessness, measures are needed to address the reasons for delays to diagnosis, to improve early accurate diagnosis, and to offer breathlessness relief strategies.