Handheld fans for dyspnoea in respiratory failure: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Fan therapy is widely acknowledged as an essential component in the management of dyspnoea with numerous studies supporting its efficacy in alleviating dyspnoea among patients with chronic illnesses. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of fan therapy in reducing dyspnoea in patients with respiratory failure undergoing continuous oxygen therapy. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of fan therapy in mitigating dyspnoea in this specific patient population through a randomised controlled trial.

Methods: Participants meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. In the experimental group, a handheld fan (HHF) was directed at the face, while in the control group the fan was aimed at the legs. Both interventions were conducted at a distance of 15-30 cm for 10 min. Key physiological and subjective measures, including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, facial skin temperature and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, were recorded immediately after fan therapy.

Results: The experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in VAS scores (p<0.05) compared with the control group indicating that fan therapy effectively alleviates dyspnoea in patients with respiratory failure receiving continuous oxygen therapy.

Conclusion: HHFs are affordable, widely accessible and highly effective in relieving dyspnoea with minimal risk. Therefore, fan therapy should be considered as a complementary treatment for patients with respiratory failure and incorporated alongside standard therapeutic interventions for the condition.