Effect of different positions given to COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit on dyspnea and respiratory parameters

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: It is thought that positioning methods used in symptom management of respiratory system diseases in the past years will increase oxygenation and improve respiratory parameters in the treatment of COVID-19. This study aimed to examine the effects of different positions given to COVID-19 patients in intensive care units on dyspnea and respiratory parameters. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The research was conducted in the intensive care units of a state hospital. The sample of the study consists of a total of 32 non-intubated COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care, including 16 intervention and 16 control groups. The individualized positioning method was applied more frequently by determining the position in which the oxygen saturation of the patients in the intervention group was highest. Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Modified Medical Research Scale, Modified Borg Scale and Patient Follow-up Form were used to collect data. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: It was determined that the severity of dyspnea measured by VAS and Modified Borg Scale decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group. While there was no significant increase in the oxygen saturation of the control group, it was determined that there was a significant increase in the oxygen saturation of the intervention group. While there was an increase in heart rate in the control group, a decrease was detected in the intervention group. It was determined that the respiratory rate of the control group was higher than the intervention group and that the respiratory rate in the intervention group decreased over time. RESULTS: It has been concluded that in the management of respiratory system symptoms due to COVID-19, individualized positioning and positioning that increases the patient's total oxygenation improves dyspnea and respiratory parameters.