Development of a device to measure adherence and pressure characteristics of positive expiratory pressure therapies used by adults with cystic fibrosis.

This study comprised two distinct phases: 1) a benchtop validation study; and 2) clinical study. Benchtop study: Accuracy of PEPtrac was measured by comparing it to video analysis for five different PEP/OscPEP devices. Clinical study: Clinical data were then collected for 18 adults with CF using one of three PEP/OscPEP devices (PariPEP S®, Acapella DH® or Aerobika®) unsupervised. Results: There was 100% agreement between PEPtrac and video analysis data. Clinical data revealed significant variability in expiratory duration and pressure properties between the three PEP/OscPEP devices and between participants. For example, expiratory duration with PariPEP S® (mean [SD] = 4.8 [1.2] sec) was longer (p < .001) than Acapella DH® (3.7 [0.8] sec) and Aerobika® (2.9 [1.1] sec) and Aerobika® had a higher oscillation amplitude than Acapella DH® (6.4 [1.7] vs 5.3 [1.5] cmH2O, p < .001). Discussion: Accurate measurement of PEP/OscPEP adherence and technique using a device such as PEPtrac was possible. Further research is required to investigate the clinical importance of the variability in technique seen in our clinical data. PMID: 33307911 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice - Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Tags: Physiother Theory Pract Source Type: research