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Table 3 Frequency of use of ACTs (n (%); N physiotherapists treating adults = 64; N physiotherapists treating paediatrics = 13)

From: Physiotherapists’ use of airway clearance techniques during an acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis: a survey study

Airway clearance technique

Very often/always or often

Sometimes

Rarely/never

Active Cycle of Breathing Technique

 Newborn – 3 yrs

1 (8)

1 (8)

11 (84)

 4–10 years

8 (67)

2 (17)

2 (16)

 11–18 years

10 (77)

1 (8)

2 (16)

 Adult

57 (89)

3 (5)

4 (6)

Autogenic Drainage

 Newborn – 3 yrs

2 (16)

2 (17)

8 (67)

 4–10 years

1 (8)

5 (38)

7 (54)

 11–18 years

5 (39)

5 (39)

3 (23)

 Adult

20 (31)

17 (27)

27 (42)

Deep breathing exercises

 Newborn – 3 yrs

4 (39)

2 (15)

6 (46)

 4–10 years

9 (70)

1 (8)

3 (23)

 11–18 years

7 (54)

3 (23)

3 (23)

 Adult

41 (65)

12 (19)

10 (16)

Directed huffing (Forced Expiration Technique)

 Newborn – 3 yrs

5 (46)

2 (16)

5 (39)

 4–10 years

13 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 11–18 years

12 (93)

0 (0)

1 (7)

 Adult

59 (92)

5 (8)

0 (0)

Postural Drainage (Head Down Tilt)

 Newborn – 3 yrs

1 (8)

1 (8)

11 (85)

 4–10 years

1 (8)

1 (8)

11 (85)

 11–18 years

0 (0)

2 (15)

11 (85)

 Adult

5 (8)

12 (19)

46 (73)

Modified Postural Drainage (no Head Down Tilt)

 Newborn – 3 yrs

11 (85)

1 (8)

1 (8)

 4–10 years

6 (46)

4 (31)

3 (23)

 11–18 years

3 (23)

2 (15)

8 (62)

 Adult

30 (47)

17 (26)

17 (26)

Manual vibration

 Newborn – 3 yrs

7 (54)

4 (31)

2 (16)

 4–10 years

8 (62)

3 (23)

2 (16)

 11–18 years

4 (31)

3 (23)

6 (46)

 Adult

30 (47)

18 (28)

16 (25)

Mechanical vibration (Vest)

 Newborn – 3 yrs

0 (0)

0 (0)

12 (100)

 4–10 years

0 (0)

0 (0)

13 (100)

 11–18 years

0 (0)

0 (0)

13 (100)

 Adult

5 (8)

0 (0)

58 (92)

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure device

 Newborn – 3 yrs

0 (0)

0 (0)

12 (100)

 4–10 years

6 (46)

2 (23)

4 (31)

 11–18 years

7 (54)

1 (8)

5 (39)

 Adult

48 (75)

12 (19)

4 (6)

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure bubble/bottle

 Newborn – 3 yrs

6 (47)

1 (8)

6 (47)

 4–10 years

9 (69)

1 (8)

3 (23)

 11–18 years

7 (54)

1 (8)

5 (39)

 Adult

41 (65)

8 (13)

14 (22)

Positive Expiratory Pressure mask or mouthpiece

 Newborn – 3 yrs

4 (32)

5 (37)

4 (31)

 4–10 years

9 (75)

1 (8)

2 (16)

 11–18 years

10 (77)

1 (8)

2 (16)

 Adult

26 (41)

21 (33)

16 (26)

Percussion

 Newborn – 3 yrs

11 (84)

1 (8)

1 (8)

 4–10 years

6 (47)

4 (31)

3 (23)

 11–18 years

3 (23)

4 (31)

6 (46)

 Adult

24 (38)

21 (33)

18 (29)

Physical exercise

 Newborn – 3 yrs

8 (62)

0 (0)

5 (38)

 4–10 years

11 (85)

2 (16)

0 (0)

 11–18 years

10 (77)

2 (15)

1 (8)

 Adult

57 (89)

5 (8)

2 (3)

Positioning

 Newborn – 3 yrs

10 (72)

1 (8)

3 (22)

 4–10 years

6 (46)

5 (38)

2 (16)

 11–18 years

5 (38)

6 (46)

2 (15)

 Adult

54 (84)

5 (8)

5 (8)

Sustained maximal inspiration

 Newborn – 3 yrs

NA

NA

NA

 4–10 years

NA

NA

NA

 11–18 years

NA

NA

NA

 Adult

19 (30)

12 (19)

33 (51)

  1. NA Not asked