Table 1.
Schedule of airway clearance therapy treatment based on condition and daily measurement timing.
| Treatment time | Condition A: (days 1–5 Vibralung) | Condition B: (days 7–11 Vibralung) | Condition C: (standard therapy: Vest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre: admission days 1–5 | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey |
| 8 a.m. | Vibralung | Vest | Vest |
| Assessments | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum |
| 12 p.m. | Vest | Vest | Vest |
| 3 p.m. | Vibralung | Vest | Vest |
| Assessments | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum |
| Second 3 p.m. ACT | Vest | None | None |
| 8 p.m. | Vest | Vest | Vest |
| Post: admission days 1–5 | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey |
| Day 6: washout | Standard of care | Standard of care | Standard of care |
| Pre: admission days 7–11 | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey |
| 8 a.m. | Vest | Vibralung | Vest |
| Assessments | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum |
| 12 p.m. | Vest | Vest | Vest |
| 3 p.m. | Vest | Vibralung | Vest |
| Assessments | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum | SpO2/20 min, sputum |
| Second 3 p.m. ACT | None | Vest | None |
| 8 p.m. | Vest | Vest | Vest |
| Post: admission day 12 | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey | Full PFT and survey |
A full PFT and a survey of pain, comfort, ease of use and changes in breathing and sputum clearance when using the Vibralung or Vest was performed every 5 days to cover the pre- and post-time periods for crossover design of Vibralung or Vest use. ACT: a single ACT treatment (Vest or Vibralung) was 30 min in duration. Condition C was the control condition, where for the entire 12-day duration of their stay/participation in this study, patients utilized the Vest for all their daily airway clearance treatments. Assessments: sputum was collected for 20 min post ACT treatment and oxygen saturation was assessed at the end of sputum collection. For Vibralung 3 p.m. treatment in Condition A, the assessment was performed after the Vibralung before the Vest treatment was started.
ACT, airway clearance therapy; PFT, pulmonary function; SpO2, peripheral oxygen saturation; survey, Likert survey to assess symptoms; Vest, vibratory vest therapy.