Aims: This study aimed to identify the thoughts and feelings of the family members living with patients with CRD before and after the introduction of HOT.

Methods: This qualitative study included five family members of CRD patients who were their primary caregivers. A semi-constructive interview method and qualitative analysis was employed to clarify the participants? thoughts and feelings about life before and after the introduction of HOT.

Ethics: This study was conducted with the approval of the University of Fukui, Department of Medical Science Ethical Research Review Board (approval #20170195).

Results: The sample comprised five participants, who were family members of five individual patients with CRD. Of these participants, two were spouses and three were children of the CRD patients. Regarding the CRD patient?s history of HOT use, one patient had not used HOT, while one had used it for a year and three had used it for four years. The interview responses were divided into 9 categories and 27 subcategories, generating 194 codes that represented the participants? thoughts. Based on the analysis, the participants thought that the disease and breathing difficulties were not special, they accepted living with the person with breathing difficulties, and were confused by and sought solutions to the patients? worsening breathing difficulties.

Conclusion: Families of patients with CRD using HOT did not consider the onset of respiratory distress to be anything special and they lived their lives supporting the patients. However, the family members were searching for a way to deal with the patient?s worsening respiratory distress despite their HOT.