Table 1.

Codes and themes elicited from answers to “How does the cough make you feel?”, in participants with ILD (n = 195)

Themes	n (%)	Codes elicited	Illustrative quotes to question "how does the cough make you feel?"
Low energy	87 (44)	Exhausted/tired/drained/weary/fatigue/low energy/worn out	“The cough can make me completely exhausted and temporarily unable to carry out simplest of function”
Worried	48 (24)	Stress/anxious/nervous/worry/frightened/scared/panic/distress/desperate	“Totally drained and stressed and panicky that I will not be able to breathe”
Embarrassed	46 (23)	Embarrassed/self-conscious/judged	“Visible sign of my illness, embarrassing”
Frustrated	41 (21)	Annoyed/frustrated/irritated/nuisance	“Frustrated, inhibiting, restricting”
Breathless	34 (17)	Breathless/can’t breathe/need air	“It makes me feel like I’m dying and can’t breathe”
Low mood	22 (11)	Depressed/low in mood/lifeless/hopeless/struggle/fed up/isolated	“Not wanting to be here i.e. just wanting to die”
Discomfort	10 (5)	Pain/uncomfortable/discomfort/hurt/choke	“Breathless, painful ribs, damaged vocal chords, low mood”