WS16.5 Airway clearance therapy and exercise in cystic fibrosis: patients’ perceptions versus participation

Abstract

Objectives: Airway clearance therapy (ACT) and exercise are important components in the physiotherapy management of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). There is limited evidence observing the relationship between perception of the importance of these adjuncts and compliance with recommended targets in the paediatric CF population. The objective of this study was to establish patients’/parents’ perceptions of the importance of ACT and exercise in the management of CF and their compliance with both and to compare the results with recommended standards. Methods: This study was carried out by the physiotherapist in a paediatric CF centre. Patients were invited to participate by means of a postal questionnaire regarding their perception of the importance of ACT and exercise and their participation in both. Parents of younger patients completed the questionnaire themselves. Results: Eighty-five questionnaires were posted and 42 were returned for analysis (57% male, 43% female). Ninety-five percent of respondants (n = 41) reported doing ACT and 95% reported doing regular exercise. While 92% felt that physiotherapy was important in daily life only 83% (n = 35) reported doing ACT on five or more days per week. Sixty two percent strongly agreed that exercise was valuable to them, whereas 50% strongly agreed that ACT was valuable. Although 93% (n = 39) of participants felt that physiotherapy (ACT and exercise) was important in daily life, only 40% (n = 17) reported achieving their recommended daily targets. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that while exercise and ACT were perceived to be equally important in the management of CF, patients were more likely to participate in exercise than ACT.