Abstract
To identify in the literature the defining characteristics and related factors of the nursing diagnosis "ineffective breathing pattern". Integrative review with the steps: problem identification, literature search, evaluation and analysis of data and presentation of results. Twenty articles and two dissertations were included. In children, the most prevalent related factor was bronchial secretion, followed by hyperventilation. The main defining characteristics were dyspnea, tachypnea, cough, use of accessory muscles to breathe, orthopnea and adventitious breath sounds. Bronchial secretion, cough and adventitious breath sounds are not included in the NANDA-International (NANDA-I). For adults and older adults, the related factors were fatigue, pain and obesity and the defining characteristics were dyspnea, orthopnea and tachypnea. This diagnosis manifests differently according to the patients' age group. It was observed that some defining characteristics and related factors are not included in the NANDA-I. Their inclusion can improve this nursing diagnosis.
Highlights
The main function of the respiratory system is to perform gas exchange
The presence of the related factor bronchial secretion is related to the fact that the airway diameter is reduced in young children, which leads to narrowing of the lumen due to mucosal edema, exacerbated secretion and infiltration of inflammatory cells, leading to different degrees of obstruction
The present review identified the related factors and defining characteristics of ineffective breathing pattern in children, adults and older adults
Summary
The main function of the respiratory system is to perform gas exchange. It extracts oxygen from the external environment, transports it to the lungs, exchanges carbon dioxide in the alveoli and expels it back into the environment[1].When there is impairment of the lungs, respiratory or accessory muscles, the body does not receive enough oxygen for the cells, leading to an abnormal respiratory pattern. The main function of the respiratory system is to perform gas exchange. It extracts oxygen from the external environment, transports it to the lungs, exchanges carbon dioxide in the alveoli and expels it back into the environment[1]. When there is impairment of the lungs, respiratory or accessory muscles, the body does not receive enough oxygen for the cells, leading to an abnormal respiratory pattern. Nursing professionals contribute significantly to the identification of patients with respiratory problems, through anamnesis and physical examination. This evaluation favors the identification of care needs, with the definition of nursing diagnosis and, later, of nursing interventions[1,2]
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