Sexuality in chronic respiratory failure: coincidences and divergences between patient and primary caregiver.

Sexual functioning can be affected by chronic illness in a variety of ways. These problems affect the patients relationship and the degree of satisfaction with his partner. We conducted a study in order to evaluate the perception of sexual difficulties and changes in communication with patients and their wives.

Impact of a hospital-based home-care program on the management of COPD patients receiving long-term oxygen therapy.

Study Objectives: To analyze the influence of a hospital-based home-care program (HCP) on the management of patients with COPD receiving long-term oxygen therapy.

Design And Setting: Randomized, controlled study in a 1,000-bed university hospital.

Intervention: The HCP applied to patients in the intervention group (HCP group) consisted of a monthly telephone call, home visits every 3 months, and home or hospital visits on a demand basis.

[Usefulness of home visits in the control and evaluation of the appropriate use of home continuous oxygen therapy].

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of home visits to monitor and evaluate the appropriate use of domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT). Appropriateness was based on the coincidence of circumstances needed to predict benefit from DOT: appropriate indications correct hypoxemia and patient compliance. All patients receiving DOT residing in the town of L'Hospitalet (Barcelona) in June 1994 were enrolled.