RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 GENebu Project: home nebulizer use and maintenance in Italy
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 758
OP 763
VO 18
IS 5
A1 A.S. Melani
A1 P. Sestini
A1 S. Aiolfi
A1 N. Barbato
A1 P. Canessa
A1 G. De Angelis
A1 D. Zanchetta
A1 R. De Tullio
A1 C. Cinti
A1 M. Neri
A1 on behalf of the Associazione Italiana Pneumologi Ospedalieri (AIPO) Educational Group
YR 2001
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/18/5/758.abstract
AB Due to the lack of information on this topic, the Educational Group of the Italian Association of Hospital Pneumologists performed an open, multicentre, observational survey to evaluate home nebulizer practices in Italy. From May–December 1999, all patients attending one of the 27 participating chest clinics throughout Italy and who were or had been using a home nebulizer in the previous 6 months were consecutively enrolled. All patients completed a self-administered questionnaire on their current practices of home nebulization. Of the 1,721 questionnaires delivered, 1,257 were returned with an overall response rate of 73%. Most patients (82.8%) reported using their nebulizer for bronchopulmonary symptoms and the remaining patients only used theirs for upper respiratory tract diseases. Subjects using their nebulizer for lower respiratory symptoms were older (p<0.001), predominantly female (p<0.001) and used their nebulizer more frequently (p<0.001). Forty per cent of patients >60 yrs old used their nebulizer regularly, at least once a day. More than 60% of respondents never received any information from healthcare workers on the correct usage of their nebulizer, and >75% received no information on nebulizer hygiene and care. Patients who received information on the use and maintenance of their nebulizer from caregivers more commonly attended to these practices (p<0.01). The present survey suggests that home nebulizer use and maintenance in Italy are heterogeneous, and there is the need to implement better nebulizer practice. The authors wish to thank Sapio Life, Monza for financial support in performing this survey.