Pediatric pulmonology
-
Pediatric pulmonology · Apr 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA step in the right direction: assessing exercise tolerance in cystic fibrosis.
Exercise tolerance may be reduced in patients with cystic fibrosis, but it is not always possible to predict this from standard lung function measurements. Formal exercise testing may, therefore, be necessary, and the test should be simple and readily available. We have developed a "3-minute step test" and compared it with the standard 6-minute walking test. ⋯ The step test is quick, simple and portable, and is not dependent on patient motivation. Although the step test is more tiring, its effect on SaO2 is similar to the 6-minute walking test. It is a safe test that may prove to be a valuable measure of exercise tolerance in children with pulmonary disease, although longitudinal studies are now needed.
-
Pediatric pulmonology · Apr 1998
Reproductive health in males with cystic fibrosis: knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of patients and parents.
Males with cystic fibrosis (CF) are generally infertile as a result of aberrant development of Wolffian duct derivitives. The personal significance of this and related reproductive and sexual health (RSH) issues is unknown. We set out to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences regarding RSH in a group of adolescent and adult males with CF, as well as the knowledge and attitudes of parents. ⋯ We conclude that the majority of males with CF know of likely infertility. The significance of this knowledge changes with time. Poor knowledge and confusion surround a range of RSH issues in males with CF.