Care Practices and Health-related Quality of Life for Individuals Receiving Assisted Ventilation A Cross-National Study

Abstract

RATIONALE: Comparisons of home mechanical ventilation services have demonstrated considerable regional variation in patient populations managed with this therapy. The respiratory care practices used to support individuals receiving assisted ventilation also appear to vary, but they are not well described. It is uncertain whether differences in the approach to care could influence health outcomes for individuals receiving assisted ventilation. OBJECTIVES: We sought to identify and describe the respiratory care practices of home ventilation providers in two different regions and determine whether care practice differences influence health-related quality of life. METHODS: We conducted a cross-..