title: Exploratory mixed methods study of respiratory physiotherapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcomes of respiratory physiotherapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Parallel group mixed-methods study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited from a general hospital. Respiratory physiotherapy took place in a community setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with LRTI completed the study. Twenty-seven patients were allocated to the control group {CG: 10 male, mean age 53.3 [standard deviation (SD) 17.4] years} and 27 patients were allocated to the experimental group [EG: 10 male, mean age 58.6 (SD 17.2) years].
  
  
  METHODS
  The CG received conventional medical treatment and the EG received conventional medical treatment plus respiratory physiotherapy for 3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in both groups undertook the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified Borg scale (MBS), modified Medical Research Council questionnaire (mMRC), and Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum scale (BCSS) before and after the intervention. A telephone follow-up survey was performed 3 months after the first hospital visit. Interviews were conducted immediately after the intervention in the EG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the EG, the distance walked in the 6MWT increased by more than the minimally important difference (P=0.001), and significantly more than the CG {EG: mean change 76m [standard deviation (SD) 63], 95% confidence interval (CI) 51 to 101; CG: mean change 27m (SD 56), 95% CI 5 to 49; mean difference between groups: 49m 95% CI 16 to 82; partial η(2)=0.15}. No differences in the MBS, mMRC and BCSS were found between the two groups. The EG reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention (27/27; 100%) and with the physiotherapist (20/27; 74%). The intervention improved patients' symptoms (19/27; 70%) and their self-management skills to control/prevent future LRTI (19/27; 70%). Health service use was significantly less in the EG (P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respiratory physiotherapy appears to be effective for the management of patients with LRTI. CLINICALTRIAL.
  NCT02053870.
authors.affiliation: Lab 3R - Respiratory Rehabilitation & Research, School of Health Sciences (ESSUA), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Lab 3R - Respiratory Rehabilitation & Research, School of Health Sciences (ESSUA), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Cintesis.UA (Center for Health Technology and Services Research), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: amarques@ua.pt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Personal satisfaction; Physical therapy; Respiratory tract infections; Self-care