Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore clinical effect of community physician-guided long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTDOT) on patients with Stage IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Design: A retrospective study.
Methods: Fifty-four patients with Stage IV COPD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (the LTDOT group and the control group). Patients in LTDOT group accepted additional oxygen therapy for more than 15 hours every day with continuous low flow (1-2 L/min) for 3 years.
Findings: PaO2 (O2 pressure), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity), and FEV1% (percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second) in the LTDOT group increased significantly after treatment. A significant decrease was observed on the BODE index in the LTDOT group (p < .05) but not in control group (p > .05). Frequencies and costs of hospitalization therapy and emergency medical services were markedly decreased after 3 years of LTDOT.
Conclusion: Community physician-guided LTDOT can improve prognosis and reduce the costs for stage IV COPD patients.
Clinical relevance: Rehabilitation nurses can be instrumental in helping patients with stage IV COPD learn principles of LTDOT.