CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPLAINTS OF PATIENTS PRESCRIBED LONG-TERM OXYGEN-THERAPY IN THE NETHERLANDS

In patients prescribed long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), compliance is often poor. Both patient- and treatment-related factors seem to be inv olved. As a base for improvements in LTOT, the characteristics and com plaints of LTOT patients were investigated. A survey was set up in a r andom sample of clients of the largest oxygen company in the Netherlan ds. Patients were selected if they were greater than or equal to 18 ye ars old, had a phone and if they had had oxygen equipment for greater than or equal to 6 months. All patients were visited at home by a medi cal student. Data are presented for a total of 528 patients (response rate 62%). The typical LTOT patient was a 70-year-old male with chroni c obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who had had oxygen equipment f or 3.5 years and who used oxygen cylinders and nasal cannulae for 13 h day(-1). Twenty percent of the patients still smoked. Although LTOT w as prescribed in 80% of the patients by a chest physician, prescriptio n was often inadequate. Only 33% of the patients were informed adequat ely about the therapy. Twenty percent of the patients used oxygen for fewer hours per day than prescribed. Non-compliant patients were mainl y men (P=0.006) and more often ashamed of their therapy (P=0.023) than compliant patients. The blood oxygen level was monitored regularly in 73% of the patients. Most complaints concerned the oxygen equipment, especially the concentrator. The single most important complaint had t o do with restricted autonomy. Only 19% of the patients had no complai nts at all. It is concluded that LTOT should be improved with regard t o the education, motivation and monitoring of patients. The prescribin g physician needs to be included in an education programme. Given the numerous problems these patients experience, LTOT should be improved i n particular with regard to equipment convenience.