EFFECTIVENESS OF CHEST PHYSIOTHERAPY ON CHANGES IN SPO2 VALUES IN PNEUMONIA PATIENTS WITH SECRETION ACCUMULATION

Abstract

Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection characterized by inflammation of the alveoli and increased secretion production, which leads to impaired gas exchange and a decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Chest physiotherapy is a non-pharmacological intervention aimed at facilitating the mobilization and elimination of secretions to improve oxygenation. Aim To analyze the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy on changes in SpO₂ levels in pneumonia patients with accumulated secretions. study employed a pre-experimental design using a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The sample consisted of 51 pneumonia patients with accumulated secretions. Data were collected by measuring SpO₂ levels before and after chest physiotherapy using a pulse oximeter. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The results showed that, prior to the intervention, the majority of patients experienced moderate hypoxemia (60.8%). Following chest physiotherapy, the majority of patients achieved normal SpO₂ levels (64.7%). The Wilcoxon test yielded a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), with all respondents showing an increase in their SpO₂ levels. Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a significant difference in SpO₂ levels before and after chest physiotherapy, indicating that the intervention has a tangible effect on improving patient oxygenation. It is recommended that future research investigate the optimal frequency of chest physiotherapy sessions within a 24-hour period