Airway clearance technique (ACT) and inhalation therapy (IT) are essential in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease management. We here present our experience with a video-call educational program, which could maintain or improve adherence in adolescents. A 6-month program was offered to adolescents: a physiotherapist would monitor their ACT and IT home program via scheduled video-calls. A structured form evaluating patients’ independence and awareness during a session would be filled in at the start and after 6 months. After informed consent was obtained, subjects filled in a questionnaire about their expectations and a satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the program. Student\'s t-test for paired data was performed for quantitative evaluation of the variables considered in forms filled during video calls. Eleven CF subjects were enrolled; most of them adhered spontaneously, as they expected to improve technique and receive helpful advice. About 301 educational video-calls were performed, 75% being the scheduled calls. Two patients dropped out. In the end, better awareness and self-management in ACT and IT was evident, and patients showed better performances (P < 0.01), reporting they received helpful advice. Video-call education is a simple and feasible tool which could be useful to support adherence to ACT and IT in CF adolescents.
Part of the book: Cystic Fibrosis