title: Community survey of home nebulizer technique by elderly people.
abstract: To determine the prevalence and nature of difficulties elderly subjects experience using home nebulizers we have studied all patients in the Leeds Health District aged 70 years and older loaned a nebulizer from the hospital for at least 6 months. Of 42 subjects with a nebulizer, 40 (95%) agreed to assessment. They had a mean age of 79 years (range 70-84 years) and mean duration of nebulizer use of 38 months (range 6-120 months). Twenty subjects had one or more problems with 14/40 (35%) rated as moderate or severe; difficulties with cleaning 16/40 (40%) and filling 7/40 (18%) were the most frequent; 13/40 (33%) were sometimes or always dependent on their carers to administer their nebulizers. Elderly subjects often experience practical difficulties, or require help from a carer, when using a home nebulizer.
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers