Patients' and nurses' perspectives on oxygen therapy: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study to describe patients' and nurses' perspectives on oxygen therapy.


BACKGROUND
Failure to correct significant hypoxaemia may result in cardiac arrest, need for mechanical ventilation or death. Nurses frequently make clinical decisions about the selection and management of low-flow oxygen therapy devices. Better understanding of patients' and nurses' experiences of oxygen therapy could inform clinical decisions about oxygen administration using low-flow devices.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews with a convenience sample of 37 adult patients (17 cardio-thoracic: 20 medical surgical) and 25 intensive care unit nurses were conducted from February 2007 to September 2007. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach.


RESULTS
The patients identified three key factors that underpinned their compliance with oxygen therapy: (i) device comfort; (ii) ability to maintain activities of daily living; and (iii) therapeutic effect. The nurses identified factors, such as: (i) therapeutic effect, (ii) issues associated with compliance, (iii) strategies to optimize compliance, (iv) familiarity with device, (v) triggers for changing oxygen therapy devices, as being key to the effective management of oxygen therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences between the patients' and nurses' perspective of oxygen therapy illustrate the variety of factors that impact on effective oxygen administration. Further research should seek to provide a further in-depth understanding of the current oxygen administration practices of nurses and the patient factors that enhance or hinder effectiveness of oxygen therapy. Detailed information about nurse and patient factors that influence oxygen therapy will inform a sound evidence base for nurses' oxygen administration decisions.
Eastwood
Glenn M
GM
School of Nursing, Deakin University, Epworth Eastern Hospital, Victoria, Australia. gmeastwood@yahoo.com
O'Connell
Bev
B
Gardner
Anne
A
Considine
Julie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013637:Tape Recording; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen