Results
breathlessness
DISEASE
Interviews were conducted with 34 patients (mean age 68 years, standard deviation [SD] 10.8, of whom 20 were female [59%]) and 10 clinicians (mean 17 years of experience, SD 6.3, of whom five were female [50%]). Five themes were identified: recognising and validating symptoms of breathlessness is an important first step; clinical decision making for breathlessness is complex; difficult conversations arise when a disease-related diagnosis is not confirmed; disease management rather than symptom management is prioritised by clinicians; and patient experience is influenced by clinician communication style.