A Study to Find out Comparative Effects of Incentive Spirometer and Nasofilter on Pulmonary Function among Petrol Filling Workers: An Interventional Comparative Study

Background: It is well known as well as many researches have been done on how pulmonary functions are affected by air pollution and other toxic gases. Prolonged and continuous work in polluted air may lead to damage in pulmonary system like restrictive lung changes (fibrosis), increases secretion production, and inflammatory changes. Pulmonary function testing is a valid and reliable to measure any minute changes in lung volumes and capacities. PFT is also a valuable diagnostic tool to quantify changes of respiratory system before it reflects as symptoms. So, it gives an early alarm sign before permanent changes set in lungs. Petrol filling workers are asymptomatic but they have to work continuously in polluted air and exposed to toxic gases such as gasoline, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide from unlimited vehicular sources. Incentive spirometer is widely used to improve lung functions. The device 'Nasofilters', a Nano - respiratory filter gives protection against the finest particulate pollutants in the air for at least eight hours and hence reduces risk of respiratory diseases. The first prototype of Nasofilters was developed in 2016. Aims: to find out comparative effects of incentive spirometer and nasofilter on pulmonary function among petrol filling workers. Methodology: 40 subjects were divided into the group of 10 each out of which Group A was controlled group, Group B used spirometer, Group C was given Nasofilters and Spirometer training twice a day for 4days/week for 4 weeks and Group D was given only Nasofilters during working hours. SF - 36 questionnaire, FVC, FEV 1, FEV1/FVC and PEFR were taken as outcome measures. The data were analysed by One - way ANNOVA and Post hoc Bonferroni test through SPSS. The test result shown significant difference in all the groups when compared to controlled group. The result of this study shown that there was significant improvement in pulmonary function and health related quality of life. Conclusion: It was observed that pulmonary functions improve in group who received both incentive spirometer and nasofilter. Nasofilter prevents entry of harmful particles in respiratory pathway and incentive spirometer improves lung functions.