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Survey Highlights Supplemental Oxygen Problems

By David Lederer, MD, editor, Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Patient Perceptions of the Adequacy of Supplemental Oxygen Therapy: Results of the American Thoracic Society Nursing Assembly Oxygen Working Group Survey

More than half of patients using supplemental oxygen experienced problems with their equipment, according to the first large cohort study of the issue. In their Annals of the American Thoracic Society article, Susan S. Jacobs and co-authors report that among more than 900 survey respondents, the top three issues were equipment not working, lack of physically manageable portable systems, and lack of high flow portable systems. The researchers also found those who experienced problems with their oxygen had greater use of health care resources. Many respondents felt they had not been properly educated about their equipment. A third said they felt “very” or “somewhat” unprepared to operate their equipment.

The authors conclude that “Initiatives by professional and patient organizations are needed to improve patient education, and promote access to equipment and services tailored to each individual patient’s needs.”

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