Major Themes and Representative Narrative Emerging From the Qualitative Survey
| Theme | Descriptive Comments |
|---|---|
| Empowerment | “It’s really truly a wonderful opportunity for me to get what I needed health-wise that makes me feel more in control of my own health and my own sinus condition.” “What’s different is that I don’t anymore feel like there’s no relief.” “It’s so simple, whenever you want, you can do it.” “I’ve learned that I can take care of a lot of this by myself, so I do.” “You don’t have to run to the doctor every few months to get on antibiotics again.” “The best thing is not having to go to the doctor. Not having to use antibiotics.” |
| Quality of life | “ … almost instant relief of the congestion.…” “… my results were immediate. I went from being congested to breathing, and I would stay clear all day.” “I could actually feel … the pressure—kind of a dam held, and then it whooshed out the other side.” “It just made a world of difference in my life.” “For me this is the magic cure for my sinuses.” “Best thing I’ve ever had. Better than any medication. It’s amazing. I would recommend it to anybody.” “When you suffer from a chronic illness for so long and then you don’t have problems with it anymore: I think it’s such a big relief and I can’t explain it, it’s such a big change where you can enjoy things that people take for granted.” “I was so desperate to get some relief from my sinuses and not have to go back and have surgery again. Planting my flower beds was just terrible, I would just have hay fever and then I’d be plugged up and then I’d have to go to the doctor. (Now) I can go outdoors … and not worry about my sinus’ plugging up on me and causing the great facial pain. I really couldn’t believe that that one simple thing could have changed my life, but it has.” |
| Barriers to use of HSNI | “It was [initially] uncomfortable and it kind of burned.” “… the first time that you use it, it’s a strange sensation—that feeling of water.…” “… it was kind of strange—kind of like you’re drowning, almost …” “Pure and simple: it was gross. It took a while to get used to it. It felt really funky.” “The hardest part was creating a habit of doing it and doing it all the time.” “I thought it was not a very graceful thing. Not a very easy thing to do.” |
| Strategies for over- coming barriers | |
| Teaching strategies | “It helped to hear that there were other people going through those reactions and stuff, and I didn’t realize that I was feeling isolated until I met some of the other people.” “(The part of the first meeting I liked most … was) being around other people that are having trouble with their sinuses.” “It needs to be not just prescribed: It needs to be taught with a video or some type of informational packet with it.” “I think the demonstration that the doctor had with us was the most helpful part.” “The hands-on was critical.” “The actual instruction when we went to the [sink] and you showing us directly how to use it made all the difference in the world.” |
| At-home strategies | “I just established a habit.” “I learned to adjust the temperature and salt content to what felt best.” “I guess when I was in the shower it was a lot easier.” “I don’t know if I was more relaxed and the steam or whatever…, but it seemed to be a lot more effective in the shower.” “After you do it a few times, it’s nothing anymore” |
| Representative narrative | “I spent a lot of time in the doctor’s office for sinus infections or being frustrated with sinus symptoms … and [had] frequent sinus headaches–as many as 3–4 per week. [The first time I used HSNI] it felt like warm water running down my nose and some of it into my throat … I did it wrong. My initial thought was ‘Oh my God, this is not going to work.’ But I did it … when we were coached … and I … worked at it … about 20 minutes in the bathroom that night. When I got it to work, it felt wonderful. I’d say it took a week before I got it down to a fine art. The first evening, I could already tell I was cleaning something out.… I was blowing all this junk out of my head. By the third evening, it was clear that there was definitely a point to this, less sinus drainage, and that it was going to help me. I also notice that I’ve been able to smell things [better]. I haven’t had a sinus infection in I can’t remember how long. I use it about 3 days out of 7, when my nose puffs up … or my sinuses start swelling. I don’t wait until I get severe [sinus symptoms] to go back to use [HSNI] every day. [The worst thing about nasal irrigation] is having to occasionally clean my face, not a big deal. For me warm water is more comfortable and seems slightly more effective. I use [HSNI] in the shower [or by the sink], clean the face, brush the teeth. I store the materials tucked in a closet in the bathroom and [leave] the water bottle and nasal pot sitting on the counter. I leave it out [as a reminder]. In the winter I’ll do it twice per day … in the summer [once]. [I use] gentle variations of the positions they taught us. [The mixing of the solution] is the easiest part; I generally do that [with each use]. My partner has been supportive. My family says [HSNI] is ‘bohemian’ and roll their eyes a little, but they never bothered me.” “[I will continue to use nasal irrigation] and have several friends who have sinus and allergy troubles to whom I’ve introduced [HSNI], and recommend it to others. Small-group demonstration is the best way to teach [it]. You get a demonstration from someone who knows [it. They tell you] ‘you will feel the water here and there.’ That alleviates the [concern of drowning, or the water getting in the wrong place]. One person [should train] 2 to 3 people, [and] actually do [HSNI].” “I’m amazed and a bit humbled. There ought to be a way to [find] … people with [sinus problems] and send them information about this treatment. More … people are beginning to say, ‘OK, what alternatives are there to antibiotics?’” |