Oxygen as a drug and scarce commodity: Do we use it rationally?
South African Family Practice
;
64(1): 1-6, 21 September 2022. Figures
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1396908
ABSTRACT
Medical grade oxygen is classified as a drug and needs to be prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. Oxygen therapy is prescribed to people who cannot maintain normal blood oxygen saturation while breathing atmospheric air. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of the rational use of this scarce commodity. This study investigated oxygen therapy practices in adult ward patients. Methods:
A cross-sectional study design with an analytical component was used in the adults' wards at a National District Hospital and the Pelonomi Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein. Data were collected from patient files, interviews and oxygen measurements of adult patients that received oxygen.Results:
One hundred and fifteen patients were included in the study, of whom 47.0% received oxygen without an oxygen prescription. Around 62.3% of the patients with prescriptions did not receive oxygen as prescribed. The prescriptions and oxygen administration for COVID-19 patients were better than for nonCOVID-19 patients. A quarter of the patients possibly received oxygen therapy unnecessarily.Conclusion:
Poor oxygen therapy practices were identified, including prescription errors, oxygen administration errors and oxygen wastage. A protocol should be developed and implemented for the prescription and administration of oxygen therapy. Training should occur to prevent oxygen wastage. Contribution This study highlighted poor oxygen practices and prescriptions, as well as oxygen wastage in the absence of local oxygen therapy guidelines.
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Prescriptions
/
COVID-19
/
Hyperbaric Oxygenation
Type of study:
Practice guideline
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
South African Family Practice
Year:
2022
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa/ZA
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS