Primary care for people with severe mental illness and comorbid obstructive airways disease: a qualitative study of patient perspectives with integrated stakeholder feedback

Objectives: To explore patient and stakeholder perspectives on primary respiratory care for people with severe mental illness (SMI) and comorbid obstructive airways disease (OAD).

Design: Qualitative, semistructured qualitative interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of people with a diagnosis of SMI (bipolar illness, schizophrenia, affective disorder with psychosis) and comorbid asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Transcribed data were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Study results were discussed with stakeholders.

Setting: Eight UK general practices.

Participants: 16 people aged 45–75 years, with SMI and comorbid asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were interviewed. Twenty-one people, four with lived experience of SMI and seventeen health/social care/third sector practitioners, participated in discussion groups at a stakeholder event.

Results: Participants described disability and isolation arising from the interplay of SMI and OAD symptoms. Social support determined ease of access to primary care. Self-management of respiratory health was not person-centred as practitioners failed to consider individual needs and health literacy. Participants perceived smoking cessation impossible without tailored support. Less than half of the practices facilitated personalised access to timely primary care and continuity. Overall, there was a reliance on urgent care if service adaptations and social support were lacking. The stakeholder group expressed concern about gaps in care, the short-term funding of community organisations and fear of loss of benefits. Potential solutions focused on supported navigation of care pathways, relational continuity, individual and community asset building and the evolving social prescriber role.

Conclusion: This study suggests that despite UK guidelines and incentives to optimise physical healthcare, primary care fails to consistently deliver integrated biopsychosocial care for patients with SMI and OAD. Collaborative, personalised care that builds social capital and tailors support for self-management is needed, alongside service-level interventions to enhance access to healthcare for patients with comorbid SMI and OAD.