[Impact that positive reinforcement during spirometry has on the measurement of VC in healthy volunteers].
OBJECTIVE
Physiologically, VC can vary according to gender, age, body weight and posture, as well as ethnic and anthropometric characteristics. In addition, various diseases can alter VC. In order to measure VC, it is necessary to motivate the patient, to make the instructions understandable, to provide clear information and to have a capable examiner. The objective of this study was to determine the impact that positive reinforcement during spirometry has on the measurement of VC in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
A randomized clinical trial involving 105 healthy volunteers, randomly allocated to one of two groups: control and intervention. In both groups, VC was assessed as baseline (VC1) and again 15 days later (VC2). Positive reinforcement was provided only to patients in the intervention group and only during the determination of VC2.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the baseline characteristics. Females predominated in both groups. There was an increase in VC2 in both groups (p < 0.01), and VC2 was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the importance of using the behavioral strategy in combination with traditional practice in order to obtain better results. The use of positive reinforcement during the determination of VC has proven to be an effective, simple and easily applied strategy.
Logrado
Vanessa Sales
VS
Centro Universitário Jorge Amado, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Sena
Erili Mota
EM
Matos
Renato Júlio Dos Santos
RJ
Silva
Tássia Menezes Leite da
TM
Oliveira
Tuliane Ribeiro de
TR
Mendes
Kristine Menezes Barberino
KM
Avena
Kátia de Miranda
Kde M
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult