Patient characteristics of the individuals living with chronic breathlessness due to advanced disease who took part in the semi-structured interviews
| All | Internet users | Non-internet users | |
| Patients n | 25 | 21 | 4 |
| Age, years | 70 (47–86) | 67 (47–84) | 84 (70–86) |
| Age category | |||
| 41–50 | 1 (4%) | 1 (5%) | |
| 51–60 | 6 (24%) | 6 (29%) | |
| 61–70 | 7 (28%) | 6 (29%) | 1 (25%) |
| 71–80 | 6 (24%) | 6 (29%) | |
| 81–90 | 5 (20%) | 2 (10%) | 3 (75%) |
| MRC dyspnoea score | 3 (2–5) | 3 (2–4) | 4 (4–5) |
| MRC dyspnoea category | |||
| MRC 2 | 6 (24%) | 6 (29%) | |
| MRC 3 | 11 (44%) | 11 (52%) | |
| MRC 4 | 7 (28%) | 4 (19%) | 3 (75%) |
| MRC 5 | 1 (4%) | 1 (25%) | |
| Sex (male:female) n:n | 15:10 | 13:8 | 2:2 |
| Ethnicity | |||
| White | 21 (84%) | 17 (81%) | 4 (100%) |
| Asian or Asian British | 2 (8%) | 2 (9.5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Black, African, Caribbean or Black British | 2 (8%) | 2 (9.5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Primary diagnosis | |||
| COPD | 13 (52%) | 10 (48%) | 3 (75%) |
| Lung cancer | 8 (32%) | 7 (33%) | 1 (25%) |
| ILD | 3 (12%) | 3 (14%) | 0 (0%) |
| Bronchiectasis | 1 (4%) | 1 (5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Smoking status | |||
| Nonsmoker | 3 (12%) | 3 (14%) | 0 (0%) |
| Ex-smoker | 19 (76%) | 17 (81%) | 2 (50%) |
| Current smoker | 3 (12%) | 1 (5%) | 2 (50%) |
| Living situation | |||
| Living alone | 14 (56%) | 13 (62%) | 1 (25%) |
| Living with significant other/family | 11 (44%) | 8 (38%) | 3 (75%) |
| Support provided by a carer | |||
| Yes | 5 (20%) | 2 (9.5%) | 3 (75%) |
| No | 20 (80%) | 19 (90.5%) | 1 (25%) |
Data are presented as n (%) or median (range), unless otherwise stated. MRC: Medical Research Council; ILD: interstitial lung disease.