Table 1. . Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: patients

– Aged ≥30 years
– Clinician-diagnosed COPD
– Documented airflow obstruction on spirometry (FEV-1/FVC ratio<0.7) on record
– Current or ex-smokers with at least 10 pack-year smoking history
– At least one previous self-reported ‘worsening’ or ‘exacerbation’ of COPD symptoms
– Access to a telephone
– Willing and able to participate in a semi-structured interview conducted in English
– Group A (prone to moderate/severe exacerbations)
- At least two moderate^a and/or one severe^b exacerbation of COPD within 1 year before 31 December 2019; and/or
- At least two moderate and/or one severe COPD exacerbation since 1 January 2020
– Group B (less prone to exacerbations)
- No more than one moderate^a and no severe^b exacerbations of COPD within 1 year before 31 December 2019; and
- No more than one moderate and no severe exacerbations of COPD since 1 January 2020

Inclusion criteria: carers

– Carer for a patient in the study
– Access to a telephone
– Willing and able to participate in a semi-structured interview conducted in English

Exclusion criteria: patients and carers

^aA moderate exacerbation of COPD is defined as a worsening of symptoms and/or decline in lung function that results in treatment with oral antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids without hospital admission or emergency department attendance. ^bA severe exacerbation of COPD is defined as a worsening of symptoms and/or decline in lung function that results in hospital admission or emergency department attendance.
COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV-1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC = forced vital capacity;