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dc.contributorFaculty of Health and Social Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.advisorNgai, Pui Ching Shirley (RS)en_US
dc.creatorTo, Yuk Ling-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/14190-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic Universityen_US
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleAn investigation of air dispersion pattern and the environmental influence of open airway suctioning and identification of a practical enclosure device for open airway suctioning in general warden_US
dcterms.abstractOpen nasopharyngeal suctioning is commonly practiced in airway clearance techniques, not solely at hospital but also at community settings. Suction, however, may trigger coughing which promotes the generation of aerosols. Nonetheless, the pattern of aerosol dispersal and whether or not enclosure device during open nasopharyngeal suctioning would be beneficial remained unknown.en_US
dcterms.abstractThis thesis aimed to study the air dispersion pattern, to examine the environmental influence of nasopharyngeal suctioning and to identify a practical enclosure device for mitigating the transmission risk.en_US
dcterms.abstractThe first study examined the aerosol dispersion pattern of coughing and open nasopharyngeal suctioning performed in a simulated setting; and to evaluate the protective effect of the surgical mask and plastic tent as the practical barrier device. Number and size of air particles of 0.3 µm, 0.5 µm, 1 µm, 2 µm, 5 µm and 10 µm were measured in four conditions including simulated cough; suction without enclosure device, with surgical mask covered and with plastic tent. The air particle counts at size of 0.3 µm to 2 µm in post-intervention were statistically significantly higher from that in pre-intervention in all conditions except in the group of suction with plastic tent covered.en_US
dcterms.abstractSumming up all six air particle sizes, there was an overall statistically significant differences in air particle counts among the three suction groups (Chi-square = 14.00, p = 0.001). Post-hoc analysis showed that the differences in suction with plastic tent covered group was significantly lower than that of the suction with surgical mask covered group (adjusted p = 0.002) and the air particle counts of the suction with plastic tent covered group was significantly lower than that of the suction without enclosure device group (adjusted p=0.014). The results indicated that a significant aerosol dispersion during both simulated coughing and nasopharyngeal suctioning procedures.en_US
dcterms.abstractThe second study assessed the droplet contamination pattern during nasopharyngeal suctioning and evaluated the protective effects of the surgical mask and plastic tent against the environmental contamination. The spreading distance of the fluorescent dye during suction without an enclosure device, suction with a surgical mask covered, and suction with plastic tent were measured and used for statistical analysis. An overall significant difference was found (p<0.001). Post-hoc analysis revealed that maximum distance of fluorescent dye spread in suction without barrier (median 103cm) was statistically significantly higher than that of suction with mask (median 10cm) (adjusted p<0.001) and that in suction without barrier was statistically significantly higher than suction with plastic tent (median 14.5cm) (adjusted p=0.005).en_US
dcterms.abstractThe third study evaluated qualitatively how physiotherapists experience in performing nasopharyngeal suctioning without and with different enclosure devices and explored the barriers and enablers in using the innovative enclosure devices for performing nasopharyngeal suctioning. All physiotherapists in the interview experienced that the enclosure device could provide protection to certain extent in performing suctioning. Apparently, the plastic tent was commented to be practical and highly adoptable barrier device.en_US
dcterms.abstractSignificant aerosol and droplet contamination during simulated nasopharyngeal suctioning procedures were demonstrated in this study. A plastic tent was found to be a potential enclosure device in reducing aerosol and droplet contamination.en_US
dcterms.extentxvii, 193 pages : color illustrationsen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2025en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelDHScen_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/14190