Abstract
Cough assist devices have been a key part of physiotherapy practice for over 15 years in New Zealand. Since then, demand for use from physiotherapists and consumers has significantly increased. Maintaining pace with this change in New Zealand has proven challenging in terms of technology, application, equity, training, and accessibility. More recently, this challenge accelerated in 2023 with the withdrawal of the primary E70 Cough assist device and the introduction of 3-4 alternative devices with varied functions and settings.
This symposium aims to explore the breath of eligibility, access, and application of the cough assist devices across community and acute settings, and across the lifespan, i.e., infants to the older adult. Furthermore, recent research relating to clinical guidelines, recommended algorithms, and device functionality will be presented and discussed. Cough assist eligibility and application will be explored across the clinical continuum including community, acute, and intensive care perspectives, contextualised by relevant clinical guidelines. Standard algorithms as useful reference points in paediatric and adult groups will be discussed as key "starting points", especially for the less experienced. Community application considers the challenges around device access, user experience, and monitoring outside the hospital environment. Device application in intensive care will consider the device’s role beyond neuromuscular diseases.
Though focused on different patient/client groups and health environments, key learnings from each of these areas will be discussed and include "tips and tricks" for optimising device application. The panel represents adult and paediatric services, intensive care, acute, and community care and diverse geographical locations.