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Original research
Telehealth application of an ultrasonic home spirometer
  1. Michael Doumit1,2,
  2. Rianna Ledwos3,
  3. Leanne Plush3,
  4. Sandra Chuang3,4,
  5. Melinda Gray3,
  6. Adam Jaffe3,4,
  7. Jamie McBride3,4
  1. 1 Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2 Physiotherapy, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3 Respiratory Medicine, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  4. 4 School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Michael Doumit, Department of Health Professions, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; michael.doumit{at}mq.edu.au

Abstract

Objective To investigate the validity and home use of a personal ultrasonic spirometer.

Methods Supervised spirometry was performed using laboratory equipment and a personal ultrasonic spirometer. In addition, the ability of children to perform acceptable spirometry during supervised telehealth appointments at home was assessed.

Results 59 children completed spirometry on both devices. There was high between-device intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC): ICC 0.991 (95% CI 0.985 to 0.995) and 0.989 (95% CI 0.981 to 0.993), respectively. Bland-Altman analysis revealed mean bias and limits of agreement of −0.01 (−0.22 to 0.24) L for FEV1 and −0.02 (−0.30 to 0.33) L for FVC. 125 of 140 (89%) supervised telehealth spirometry sessions were acceptable.

Conclusion There was excellent reliability in between-device measurements; however, the limits of agreement were wide. Therefore, caution is needed if the device is used interchangeably with laboratory equipment. High success rates of telehealth spirometry sessions indicate the device is suitable for this application.

  • cystic fibrosis
  • respiratory medicine
  • technology

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-322536

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    Footnotes

    • Funding This study was supported by a Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Research Starter Grant and an HCF Research Foundation Grant (201903550148).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.