Nicholas Morin, DO, George Blessen, RN, Erika King, MS, George Ferzli, MD. NYU Langone Brooklyn
Introduction: There is uncertainty as to whether the incentive spirometer (IS) confers a clinical benefit or reduces inpatient pulmonary complications when correlated with the most common hospital diagnoses. Does the patient know how to use one correctly, is it prescribed for the appropriate diagnosis, and is it at the bedside? if so, is it within reach? Our study aims to determine the patterns of use of the incentive spirometer.
Methods: From September 2016 to August 2017, patients admitted for more than 24 hours were included.192 surgical and 206 medical patients were surveyed for usage and observed for receipt of the IS device. Questions asked where: Have you ever used the IS? “Have you been instructed on how to use the incentive spirometer? Have you used it today? How many times in the last hour have you used the IS? What is the number one reason for you to not effectively use the IS? Other questions: Did the patient receive the IS device? Did the patient have the capacity to use the IS? Was the IS within reach? Was the package open? Did the patient demonstrate correct usage of the IS?” We correlated our literature search with the top 10 most common admitting diagnosis and procedures at our institution.
Results: Of the 192 surgical patients observed, 147 received the device. 72% of these patients demonstrated correct usage. 60% used the device that day, but only 15.6% for the prescribed 10 times/hour. It was in reach of 80.3%. Average use per hour was 2.79 times. 3% of surgical patients did not have capacity. The IS was out of reach for 9%. 12% reported that they did not know how to use the device. The most frequently reported reason among surgery and medical patients for not using the IS appropriately was pain (60% and 67%, respectively). Of the 206 observed medical patients, only 22% (45 patients) have received the device with only half admitting to using it on the day of questioning. 22% of these patients didn’t know how to use the IS, and it was out of reach in 7%. 80% had been educated. 57.8% showed correct usage. 100% of medical patients had capacity to use it. Medical patients use averaged 1.47 times per hour.
Conclusion: Our data show that the IS device has poor availability, improper application, and poor compliance among inpatient medical and surgical patients.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 92118
Program Number: P638
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster