Benefits of Home‐Based Respiratory Muscle Training from the Perspectives of Individuals Who Had a Stroke: Qualitative Study

Background Although the significance of respiratory muscle training has been established in the literature, there is a need to understand the participantsʼ perceptions of the benefits of this intervention. Objective To understand how individuals who had a stroke perceive changes in their body functions and structures, activities, and participation after a high‐intensity respiratory muscle training intervention and to understand their perceptions of the benefits and limitations of a home‐based intervention. Design Qualitative study. Setting Community‐dwelling patients. Patients Fifteen individuals who had a stroke. Methods For this qualitative study, interviews were conducted using a semistructured questionnaire about topics related to participation in a home‐based respiratory muscle training intervention. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results Fifteen participants were interviewed. Most of the participants reported positive perceptions of body functions and structures, grouped into two thematic categories (breathing and speech); activity, also grouped into two thematic categories (walking and domestic activities); and participation, grouped into one thematic category (community‐leisure activities). Answers about the benefits of a home‐based intervention were grouped into three thematic categories (no need to leave home, commitment to training, and comfort). All participants reported that they would recommend the intervention to other stroke patients and that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the intervention. Most (80%) participants did not consider the intervention difficult to perform. Conclusion Individuals who had experienced a stroke perceived the benefits of high‐intensity home‐based respiratory muscle training in all components of function.