Objective assessments (print-out version)



1: Do you have severe chest pain?
Yes = see a
doctor; No = go to 2



2: Do you cough up blood?
Yes = see a
doctor; No = go to 3



3: Is the in-breath louder than the out-breath (stridor)?
Yes = see a doctor; No = go to 4



4: Is the patient out of breath when speaking?
(note: do their shoulders move to help them breathe)
Yes = severe
breathlessness; No = go to 5



5: Do you now struggle with a normal activity such as walking, which didn’t happen
before?
Yes = ADL limited by
breathlessness; No = go to 6



6: Time taken for sit to stand test?
Note
time taken then go to 7




7: using Borg scale, patient points to the level that describes their
breathlessness?
Note
answer given then go to 8



8: can you hear crackles with your ear or stethoscope?
Yes = sputum needs
clearance; No = go to 9



9: Can you feel the crackles with your hand?
Yes = sputum needs
clearance; No = go to 10



10: Are the crackles high in the lungs?
Yes = go to 11; No = sputum needs clearance



11: Do you hear bronchial breathing or reduced breath sounds?
Yes = go to 12; No = reduced breath in lungs, go to doctor



12: Do you feel aches around your shoulders or chest from coughing and bringing up
sputum?
Yes = needs pain relief;
No = go to 13



13: Are you drinking enough water?
Yes = go to 14; No = de-hydrated



14: Do you (the patient) have a lot of sputum?
Yes = excess sputum; No = go to 15



15: Does the amount of sputum bother you?
Yes = Education in sputum
clearance; No = go 16



16: Has your sputum changed colour or is it thicker?
Yes = go to 17; No = go to 19



17: Do you have bronchiectasis or COPD?
Yes = go to doctor; No = go to 18



18: Do you feel ill/ have a temperature?
Yes = consider going to doctor
for potential infection; No = go to 19



19: Do you have problem with bringing up sputum?
Yes = go to 20; No = go to 23



20: Is the problem of bringing up sputum due to pain?
Yes = pain in sputum
retention; No = go to 21



21: Is the problem of bringing up sputum due to weakness?
Yes = weakness causing sputum
retention; No = go to 22



22: Is the problem of bringing up sputum due to a social reason or
embarrassment?
Yes = embarrassment; No = go to 23



23: Does the problem of bringing up sputum cause other problems such as wetting
yourself?
Yes = causes wetting;
No = go to 24



24: Outcome measures (done after treatment): Is the sputum now clearer?
Yes = go to 25; No = repeat treatment



25: Outcome measures (done after treatment): Can the patient now manage their own
secretions?
Yes = (finish); No = repeat treatment