The Influence of Respiratory Component on Satisfaction with Physical Therapy after Cardiosurgical Interventions

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of additional respiratory physical therapy on the level of satisfaction with physical therapy among patients after cardiac surgery. Materials and methods. The study involved 150 patients. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: control (respiratory physical therapy was limited to cough), group of incentive spirometry (in classes with a physical therapist patients performed additional 3 approaches of 10 breaths through the simulator; they received recommendations for hourly performance of a similar number of cycles of exercise), a group of patients who received additional respiratory physical therapy with positive expiratory pressure in the form of exhalation into a bottle of water through a tube (number of repetitions and recommendations are similar to those received by the previous group). All groups underwent the same protocol of mobilization and use of therapeutic physical exercises in the procedure of therapeutic gymnastics. Performing exercises with breathing simulators began on the first postoperative day. Results and discussion. A questionnaire (17 questions) was used to assess the satisfaction with physical therapy. The survey was conducted on the seventh postoperative day. The answers were distributed on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 point to 5 points. The key preoperative indicators and time indicators of surgical interventions of the examined groups did not differ significantly. Analysis of satisfaction with physical therapy revealed a high level in all items of the questionnaire. Statistical differences between the groups were found in only three items of the questionnaire, but they were not related to either the use of equipment or diligence in treatment or the content of physical therapy. The overall score of the questionnaire did not differ in groups according to the Kraskel-Wallis criterion, and Me indicators (25%; 75%) were in the control group – 81 (77; 85) points, in the group of stimulating spirometry – 81 (72; 85) points in the group with positive expiratory pressure – 79 (73; 84) points (χ2 = 4.560; p = 0.102). Conclusion. Additional respiratory physical therapy did not affect the overall satisfaction rate and results of most items of the questionnaire. The differences found in the three items did not indicate any effect of the use of respiratory physical therapy on the level of satisfaction, as higher scores in these items were in the control group. All items in the questionnaire received high scores