Table 6 Subthemes

• Comfort touch [31]

• Active listening [35]

• Touching [35]

• Smiling [32]

• Gaze [32]

• Eyebrow movement [32]

• Head nod [32]

• Handshakes [32]

• Nurse-aide-initiated communication [33]

• Emotional support [33]

• Effective nonverbal communication [37]

• Verbal communication [32, 34, 36]

• Biomedical and psychosocial information [32]

• Positive talk [32]

• Lifestyle discussion [32]

• Rapport building [32]

• Mutual respect [35]

• Equity [35]

• Conflict resolution [35]

• Tailored intervention [36]

• Telephone communication [36]

• Participatory approach [34]

• Curated story [34]

• Well-being [31]

• Self-esteem [31]

• Health status [31]

• Social processes [31]

• Life satisfaction [31]

• Self-actualisation [31]

• Self-responsibility [31]

• Patient satisfaction [32, 36]

• Increased awareness of COPD effects [36]

• Improved health literacy [34]

• Presenting problems [32]

• Mental health [32]

• Physical health [32]

• Adherence to providers’ recommendations [37]

• Improved quality of care [37]

• Shorter hospital stays [37]