TABLE 3.

Pre-specified questions that will be used to facilitate the qualitative research (semi-structured interviews) and the focus group

Pre-selected open-ended questions
Can you tell us about your experience of having an exacerbation (flare-up) of your COPD?
When you have a flare-up of your COPD, how does this impact your life?#
What treatments were you offered for your recent exacerbations? How do medicines for your flare-ups make you feel? (Ask specifically for NIV)#
To what extent the effects of treatments you had for exacerbations matched your expectations?
What specifically have you hoped from the treatments for your COPD exacerbations?#
What concerns do you have about your future exacerbations (flare-ups)? What are the most concerning effects of exacerbations in your life?
If a new treatment became available for COPD flare-ups, what specific effects would you like it to have on you?#
Provide plain language description of the outcomes. Make sure the participants understand what an outcome is: Which outcomes do you think are important to be evaluated?
Were there any outcomes that you considered important previously that were not mentioned during this interview?

NIV: noninvasive ventilation. ^#: Ask specifically about physical/mental/social wellbeing.