Pulse oximetry, a straightforward method for estimating arterial oxygen saturation, can detect hypoxemia early; it's used often and in a variety of settings. But what's not always clear is how frequently-or even whether-patients should be monitored, and unless guidelines are understood and followed, pulse oximetry can be misused or overused. This article reviews the technology and its limitations and discusses current guidelines and their implications for nurses.
Purpose
For patients hospitalized for a cardiac event, an earlier appointment to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) increases participation. However, it is unknown what effect hastening CR enrollment might have among employed patients planning to return to work (RTW).
Methods
Using two complementary datasets [Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) and Mayo Clinic] we assessed when employed patients eligible for CR anticipated a RTW, the impact of an earlier appointment on CR enrollment, and the effect of employment status on the number of CR sessions attended. Patients at HFH attended CR at either 8 or 42 days (through randomization,) while Mayo Clinic patients attended 10 days after hospital discharge per standard routines.
Results
Among 148 patients at HFH, 65 (44%) were employed and planned to RTW. Of these, 67% desired to RTW within 1–2 weeks, while 28% anticipated a RTW within 1–3 days. Home financial strain predicted non-participation in CR (p<0.001) and was associated with an earlier planned RTW. Among 1,030 patients at Mayo Clinic, 393 (38%) were employed. Employed (vs. non-employed) patients enrolled in CR 3.3 days sooner (p < 0.001), but attended 1.6 fewer CR sessions (p = 0.04). In employed patients from both health systems, an earlier (vs. later) appointment to CR did not result in additional exercise sessions of CR.
Conclusions
Employed patients plan to RTW quickly, in part due to home finances. They also enroll earlier into CR than non-employed patients. Despite these findings, earlier appointments do not appear to favorably impact overall CR participation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.