Patients’ competence to consent may be reduced in an acute illness phase. Therefore, eligible patients were approached by a study liaison to participate in the study when their medical condition had stabilized, approximately the second or third day after admission to the pulmonary ward. The principal investigator (R.A.) then obtained informed consent for study participation and audio taping. Of those who were eligible, 10 patients refused and 5 participants either died before the interviews were completed or were excluded because they were diagnosed with another serious illness, such as lung cancer, resulting in a sample of 92 patients, which
represents a participation rate of 91%. There were no significant age or gender differences between
participants and those who refused to participate.
The Regional National Committee for Research Ethics
in Norway approved the study.