Perceptions of Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease on Home Use of Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximeters are often used at home by patients with chronic respiratory diseases and more recently for remote monitoring of patients with COVID-19. There are no published data outside a supervised telemedicine setting regarding patients' experiences with these devices. Our objective was to explore patients' usage patterns and perceptions of using pulse oximetry at home.

Patients with chronic respiratory disease who had a pulse oximeter at home were recruited to complete a structured survey.

Thirty participants with a range of chronic respiratory diseases (mean age 71 y, 16 females) were recruited. Most participants (83%) used home oxygen therapy. Pulse oximeters were bought online (46.7%), at a pharmacy (40%), at a medical equipment store (6.7%), through a clinic (3.3%), or from an oxygen supplier (3.3%). Use was self-initiated in 56.7% of cases and was based on a health care-related recommendation in 26.7% of cases. Sixty percent of participants used the oximeter daily, with 90% expressing confidence in interpreting their oximeter readings primarily due to education from health care professionals and in-patient experiences. Almost all participants adjusted their activity levels or management based upon oximeter readings. Most participants reported that using a pulse oximeter at home was helpful in judging their physical limitations and provided reassurance and confidence in their disease management.

Subjects appeared confident in their use of home pulse oximetry. Health professionals should identify patients who use pulse oximeters for monitoring and ensure that they are able to interpret readings correctly and, if appropriate, adjust management safely.