Physiotherapy
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To explore and describe current UK physiotherapy practice relating to airway clearance techniques and mucoactive agents in critically ill adult patients with acute respiratory failure in the intensive care unit. ⋯ Standard UK physiotherapy practice of airway clearance techniques is variable, but patient-centred and targeted to individual need, with adjunctive use of mucoactive agents to enhance and optimise patient management if required. Based on this study, key features of airway clearance techniques have been summarised to help capture standard care, which could be used in future trials involving ACT as part of usual care.