The Use of Evaluation Methods for Physiotherapy Treatment in Infants With Bronchiolitis: a Survey Study

AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify and describe methods that physiotherapists use to evaluate the immediate effects of their interventions for infants in hospital with acute respiratory tract infections.

METHODS: We constructed an anonymous digital survey to physiotherapists working with infants aged 0-24 months in Sweden. The survey was distributed by e-mail and posted on web pages for seven weeks, which included a reminder.

RESULTS: Replies were obtained from 88 respondents, and 52 completed surveys remained to be analyzed. All 21 counties in Sweden were represented. The most prevalent answer options were as follows: more productive/increased or decreased cough (73%), increased oxygen saturation (35%), changed secretion sounds (33%), reduced work of breathing (20%), and parental report (16%).

CONCLUSIONS: The physiotherapists reported to use diverse methods for evaluation of their interventions. However, to a large degree they used subjective measures, which depend on the individual clinician's assessment and interpretation. The evaluation methods vary in psychometric properties and robustness. This study identifies the need for consensus about valid, reliable, and clinically relevant evaluation methods for this patient group.