Abstract:

Objective: To explore the barriers of inhaled medication behavior among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide basis for formulating targeted intervention strategies and improving inhaled medication management practice. Methods: Using descriptive research method, an interview outline was designed based on theoretical domains framework (TDF), and 14 stable COPD patients admitted to Qingdao Municipal Hospital from November 2024 to February 2025 were selected for semi-structured interview using purpose sampling method. The interview data was compiled using TDF as coding framework, and analyzed with targeted content analysis method. Results: A total of 3 themes and 13 sub-themes were extracted, including limited management ability (low disease and medication literacy, insufficient inhaled medication use skills, lack of priority setting, low self-efficacy), insufficient behavioral motivation (poor expected results, negative emotions, stigma, lack of goals, instability of goals), and lack of external support (scarce resources, lack of family support, lack of medical support, lack of social support), which were mapped to 9 theoretical domains in TDF: knowledge, skills, memory/attention/decision-making, ability beliefs, outcome beliefs, emotions, goals, environment and resources, and social impact. Conclusion: Inhaled medication behavior of COPD patients is affected by multiple barriers. Multi-dimensional collaborative intervention should be carried out through improving medication management capabilities, stimulating behavioral motivations, and establishing and improving support systems to standardize the inhaled medication behavior of COPD patients and improve their medication compliance.

Key words: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive, Administration, inhalation, Behavior, Factor analysis, Qualitative research