The short- and long-term effects of lower limb endurance training on outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: To explore the short- and long-term effects of lower-limb endurance training on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease outpatients.

Design: Prospective quasi-experimental study.

Setting: 1383-bed teaching hospital in Taiwan.

The Intention of Inhaled Medication Adherence Scale (IMAS): The Development of a New Instrument for Assessing Inhaled Medication Adherence Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Using Theory of Planned Behavior.

Purpose: Inhaled medication adherence is an important issue for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because adhering to inhaled medications could substantially improve their health. However, patients with COPD may not be always adhere to the prescribed inhaled medications. Therefore, understanding the underlying reasons for patients with COPD adhering to inhaled medications is important.

Influence of Aerosol Mask Design on Fugitive Aerosol Concentrations During Nebulization.

Background: Secondhand exposure to fugitive aerosols may cause airway diseases in health providers. We hypothesized that redesigning aerosol masks to be closed-featured would reduce the fugitive aerosol concentrations during nebulization. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a mask designed for a jet nebulizer on the concentration of fugitive aerosols and delivered doses.

Predicting Inhaled Drug Dose Generated by Mesh Nebulizers.

The lung dose of nebulized drugs for spontaneous breathing is influenced by breathing patterns and nebulizer performance. This study aimed to develop a system for measuring breath patterns and a formula for estimating inhaled drugs, and then to validate the hypothesized prediction formula. An model was first used to determine correlations among the delivered dose, breath patterns, and doses deposited on the accessories and reservoirs testing with a breathing simulator to generate 12 adult breathing patterns ( = 5).

Identifying Novel Clusters of Patients With Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Using Trajectories of Rapid Shallow Breathing Index.

Objective: Patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) are comprised of a heterogeneous population, creating great challenges for clinical management and study design. The study aimed to identify subclusters of PMV patients based on trajectories of rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), and to develop a machine learning model to predict the cluster membership based on baseline variables.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in respiratory care center (RCC) at a tertiary academic medical center.

Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation program on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develop respiratory failure and progressive muscle weakness. The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on the lung function of patients with ALS are unclear.

Objective: Through this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we evaluated the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation, such as type of treatment, on patients with ALS and compared the effectiveness of this treatment.

Evidence-searching capability among health care professionals: a comparative study.

Background: Evidence-based practice is among core competencies of health care professionals (HCPs). However, the levels of evidence-searching capability may differ among various disciplines of HCPs as they receive different education and trainings for various durations in medical schools and teaching hospitals.

Methods: This study aimed to compare the evidence-searching capability among different disciplines of HCPs and identify which aspects need to be reinforced.

Benefits of Multiple-Intervention Pulmonary Rehabilitation to Older Adults with High-Risk Multimorbidity after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Objective: Multimorbidity in elderly patients increases complications and retards the recovery of pulmonary function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. We aimed to evaluate the impact of multiple-intervention pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on respiratory muscle strength and dyspnea scores after CABG in adult patients aged ≥65 years who had multimorbidity.

Methods: A cohort study was retrospectively conducted with 95 adults aged ≥65 years who underwent CABG surgery and completed a multiple-intervention PR program.

Effect of high flow nasal cannula on peripheral muscle oxygenation and hemodynamic during paddling exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Exercise training for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves their endurance and oxygenation. Supplemental oxygen delivered by high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) reportedly improves the clinical outcomes during high-intensity exercise. However, the physical benefits of the provision of supplemental oxygen with HFNC for the improvement of exercise performance have not been fully investigated.

A scale for measuring evidence-searching capability: A development and validation study.

Rationale: The ability to acquire the best evidence efficiently is an important competency for busy health-care professionals who must make decisions quickly.

Aims And Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate a scale for measuring evidence-searching capability.

Methods: We first developed a scale for measuring evidence-searching capability by using the modified Delphi technique.

Aerosol delivery during spontaneous breathing with different types of nebulizers- in vitro/ex vivo models evaluation.

Background: Nebulizers for spontaneous breathing have been evaluated through different study designs. There are limitations in simulated bench models related to patient and nebulizer factors. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of inhaled drug mass between in vitro and ex vivo studies by testing aerosol deposition of various types of nebulizers.

Size distribution of salbutamol/ipratropium aerosols produced by different nebulizers in the absence and presence of heat and humidification.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the size distribution of inhaled and exhaled aerosolized drugs, or the effect of heated humidification on particle size and lung deposition. The present study evaluated these aspects of bronchodilator (salbutamol/ipratropium) delivery using a lung model in the absence and presence of heat and humidification.

Methods: We positioned filters to collect and measure the initial drug, inhaled drug, and exhaled drug.

Burden on caregivers of ventilator-dependent patients: A cross-sectional study.

Caring for prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients imposes heavy psychological, physical, social, and financial burdens on caregivers. Currently, studies regarding the burden on caregivers of PMV patients are scant; therefore, the present study investigated the burden on caregivers of PMV patients.This cross-sectional study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital.

Aerosol Delivery Using Jet Nebulizer and Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer During High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation: An In Vitro Comparison.

Background: High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is used in critically ill patients with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the efficiency of aerosol delivery with different lung parameters during simulated neonatal, pediatric, and adult HFOV.

Methods: Sensormedics 3100A/B ventilators were used to deliver infant, pediatric, and adult HFOV.