Abstract

Background and Aim: Breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom frequently seen in primary care. Ethnic minority communities face delayed diagnosis when seeking help for breathlessness which can contribute to increased healthcare utilisation and poorer health outcomes.
We aimed to explore help-seeking behaviours in individuals from a South Asian community in Leicester, and identify community-informed approaches to improve support and signposting for breathlessness.

Methods: Two focus group (FG) discussions were conducted with Bangladeshi community living in Leicester; one male and one female group as determined by participant preference. FGs were facilitated by trained qualitative researchers and supported by a bilingual interpreter where required, facilitating communication in participants’ preferred language to promote inclusive participation. The focus group topic guide included prompts about experiences of breathlessness, help-seeking, healthcare access and preferred methods of receiving information and support. FGs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, supported by NVivo software.

Results: Twelve adults with a history of breathlessness participated in the study (Male FG n =5, female FG n =7). Participants reported three key help-seeking patterns: engagement with formal healthcare pathways, adoption of culturally specific self-management strategies, and delayed help-seeking (Figure 1).
Five themes that promoted support and signposting for individuals were identified: digital and visual communication, trusted healthcare information, community support, breathlessness self-management education, and awareness raising and signposting (Figure 1). The need for culturally accessible information was cross cutting through all themes. Participants emphasised the importance of having information available in native languages and delivered through diverse formats, including audio resources, video animations, social media platforms, and trusted healthcare sources, with specific reference to the NHS App. Family, friends, and wider community networks were identified as important facilitators of healthcare engagement. Participants also highlighted the need for practical education on breathing techniques, first-aid responses, and guidance on when to seek professional help.

Conclusion: Findings emphasise the need for culturally tailored, multilingual breathlessness information delivered through trusted healthcare and community channels. Community-informed, digital, and visual resources may enhance awareness, support timely help-seeking, and enable earlier recognition and management in diverse populations.