Patients' experiences living with claudication and healthcare professionals' perspectives of managing the condition: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication significantly affects mobility, leading to disability and reduced participation in daily activities. Regular physical activity improves walking capacity, quality of life, and reduces cardiovascular risk, yet many individuals with claudication remain inactive, worsening disease outcomes. Existing interventions have struggled to promote sustained increases in physical activity. To develop more effective strategies, it is essential to understand the lived experiences of individuals with PAD and claudication and the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in their management. Objective To explore the lived experience of people with claudication and healthcare professionals who care for people with claudication. Methods Using a phenomenological approach, a qualitative study was conducted involving six participants who were purposively recruited from the vascular clinics of two NHS Scotland Health Boards. Three people with claudication and three healthcare professionals participated in focus group discussions of their experiences living with, and providing care for people living with claudication. The transcribed texts from the focus group discussions were analysed thematically. The study was approved by the Glasgow Caledonian University’s ethics committee and the NHS Research Ethics Committee. Results There were overlapping themes that emerged from the patients’ and healthcare professionals’ groups including the need for appropriate patient education/information sources, and perceptions of disparity in the availability of healthcare services/resources. Other themes from the patients’ included experience of reduction in their overall health status and quality of life, and the negative impact of comorbidities. Other themes from the healthcare professionals’ included heterogeneity in patients’ clinical presentation requiring tailored approaches, unrealistic patients’ expectations, and emphasis on the positive impact of exercise programmes on patients’ outcomes. Conclusions The findings underscored the complexity of managing PAD and claudication, highlighting the need for a nuanced approach that integrates personalised care, improved patient education, and improving the availability of healthcare services for patients with PAD and claudication. Interventions aimed at strengthening patient education and awareness of the condition and its management from the point of diagnosis, alongside strategies to address barriers to physical activity, are crucial for improving patient care and outcomes.