Respiratory care
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Dynamic hyperinflation is a major cause of dyspnea in patients with COPD. Dynamic hyperinflation is usually measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing, but this test requires maximal effort from the patient, and inspiratory capacity (IC) measurements may influence test results. This study investigated another approach by measuring dynamic hyperinflation during the more natural and better-tolerated 6-min walk test (6MWT), using a mobile system for IC measurements. ⋯ This study provides a proof of principle for mobile IC measurements during the 6MWT, demonstrating good test performance, reasonable tolerability, and a power to differentiate normal from pathologic conditions.
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COPD screening guidelines in patients with HIV are lacking, and data about its under-diagnosis are still limited. This study aimed to determinate the feasibility of a case-finding program and the prevalence of COPD under-diagnosis in a large cohort of HIV-infected subjects. ⋯ COPD may be under-diagnosed in HIV-infected people, and case-finding programs are an urgent issue to address as part of routine practice in these individuals.
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Clinical facilities are essential components not only of health care delivery systems, but also of health care education programs. The clinical learning environment (CLE) is important in training the future health care workforce. Because respiratory therapy (RT) is a practice-based profession, it is essential to integrate clinical education into RT education. RT education programs face several issues with respect to the need for preparing a proper CLE in various clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of RT students on the CLE of clinical facilities affiliated with an RT program at an urban state university and to determine the impact of education level on student perception of the CLE of clinical facilities. ⋯ Education level influenced students' perceptions of the CLE of clinical facilities. Overall, respiratory therapy students rated their CLE experiences as positive and they were satisfied with the clinical instructor and team model.
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Measurements of inspiratory capacity (IC) and vital capacity (VC) are used to recognize dynamic hyperinflation, but appropriate reference values are required to achieve accurate clinical interpretations. Altitude above sea level is a potential determining factor for lung volumes, including IC and VC. ⋯ IC in healthy people at 2,240 m above sea level was higher than that of previous reports about European and Latin-American subjects of the same height, sex, and age who were at sea level. The present study provided robust reference values for persons who lived at a moderate altitude.