Summary
Oxygen therapy for acute myocardial infarction: a web-based survey of physicians’ practices and beliefs
Cabello JB, Emparanza Knörr JI, Ruiz García V, Burls A
Affiliation of the authors
Coordinación CASPe. Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Spain. Unidad de Epidemiología Clínica e Investigación, CASPe, CIBER-ESP, Hospital Donostia. San Sebastián, Spain. Servicio de Hospitalización Domiciliaria. CASPe. Ho
DOI
Quote
Cabello JB, Emparanza Knörr JI, Ruiz García V, Burls A. Oxygen therapy for acute myocardial infarction: a web-based survey of physicians’ practices and beliefs. Emergencias. 2009;21:422-8
Summary
Background and objective: The routine administration of oxygen in acute myocardial
infarction (AMI) is a practice open to debate, particularly after a Cochrane review of
oxygen vs air showed a nonsignificant but considerable increase in mortality for oxygentreated
patients (relative risk 3.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-9.93). The reviewers
concluded that a randomized controlled trial was needed to provide definitive evidence.
The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of use of oxygen therapy in
uncomplicated AMI and the beliefs of physicians about this therapy.
Methods: Two recruitment methods were combined. Participants were found either
through e-mails sent to a theoretical sample of physicians treating AMI, in which they
were given a link to the web-based survey, or by means of a posted link to the online
survey.
Results: Eighty-six percent of the respondents treat AMI with oxygen therapy. Nearly
half (44%) believe it relieves pain and over half (54%) believe it reduces mortality. Nearly
29% are unfamiliar with guidelines for oxygen therapy in AMI. Scant differences were
found between medical specialties.
Conclusions: Oxygen therapy is widely used in AMI. Physicians justify their use by
referring to the by a belief that it reduces pain and mortality. Beliefs should be taken into
account in designing future research.