Description

The Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) is a standardized clinical assessment instrument developed by J. Hammer and C. J. L. Newth (1994) to evaluate the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy interventions in neonates and infants. The questionnaire was specifically designed to identify which respiratory physiotherapy techniques contribute positively to neonatal respiratory care and to support evidence-based optimization of treatment protocols. It provides clinicians with a structured framework for monitoring treatment outcomes and evaluating the clinical effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy in neonatal practice.

Respiratory physiotherapy represents an important component of neonatal intensive care for infants experiencing respiratory compromise, impaired airway clearance, retained pulmonary secretions, or other respiratory disorders requiring specialized physiotherapeutic intervention. The IRPH-28 facilitates systematic clinical assessment by documenting treatment responses, monitoring patient progress, and identifying opportunities to improve therapeutic techniques and respiratory outcomes.

The questionnaire consists of 28 open-ended and closed-ended items completed by the physician responsible for the infant’s care. Most closed-ended items are rated using a four-point Likert response scale, ranging from 1 (“Slightly”) to 4 (“Extremely”), allowing clinicians to quantify treatment responses while also collecting qualitative clinical observations through open-ended questions.

The Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) is widely applied in neonatology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric physiotherapy, neonatal intensive care, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation medicine, nursing, clinical research, and healthcare quality improvement, where it serves as a valuable instrument for evaluating respiratory physiotherapy interventions and optimizing neonatal respiratory management.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) are analyzed using comprehensive quantitative and qualitative statistical procedures designed to evaluate respiratory physiotherapy practices and clinical outcomes in neonates. Responses to the closed-ended questions are summarized using frequency distributions and percentage analyses, while open-ended responses are transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis to identify recurring themes, treatment patterns, and clinically relevant observations.

Psychometric evaluation typically includes analyses of internal consistency, together with assessments of content validity, construct validity, criterion validity, and cross-cultural adaptation where appropriate. The Greek version of the questionnaire was developed using the internationally accepted independent back-translation methodology, and all statistical analyses were evaluated at a significance level of p = 0.05, demonstrating satisfactory internal consistency.

Additional statistical analyses commonly include descriptive statistics, calculation of means and standard deviations, comparative analyses using independent-samples t-tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square analyses, correlation analyses, and regression models to investigate associations between respiratory physiotherapy interventions and clinical outcomes. The instrument is particularly useful for evaluating treatment effectiveness, comparing respiratory physiotherapy techniques, monitoring neonatal progress over time, and supporting evidence-based clinical decision-making.

The findings are especially valuable for neonatologists, pediatricians, respiratory physiotherapists, neonatal nurses, rehabilitation specialists, healthcare researchers, and hospital administrators seeking to optimize neonatal respiratory care, improve treatment protocols, and enhance patient outcomes.

Objective

The primary objective of the Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) is to provide a reliable and structured assessment of the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy interventions in neonates and infants. The questionnaire enables healthcare professionals to identify successful therapeutic approaches, recognize interventions requiring modification, evaluate treatment outcomes systematically, and improve respiratory physiotherapy protocols through evidence-based clinical practice.

The instrument supports both clinical practice and scientific research by facilitating standardized patient monitoring, evaluating respiratory physiotherapy interventions, improving neonatal respiratory care, and contributing to the development of optimized treatment strategies that enhance respiratory function and overall neonatal health outcomes.

Scoring

The Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) consists of 28 open-ended and closed-ended items completed by the physician responsible for monitoring the infant. Most quantitative items are rated using a four-point Likert response scale, ranging from 1 (“Slightly”) to 4 (“Extremely”), reflecting the clinician’s assessment of the infant’s response to respiratory physiotherapy interventions.

Closed-ended responses are analyzed quantitatively to evaluate treatment effectiveness, while open-ended responses provide complementary qualitative information regarding clinical observations and therapeutic outcomes. Higher scores generally indicate more favorable clinical responses and greater perceived effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy interventions, whereas lower scores may indicate reduced therapeutic benefit or the need for modification of treatment techniques.

Interpretation of questionnaire findings should always be supported by comprehensive psychometric evaluation and appropriate statistical analyses, ensuring accurate, reliable, and clinically meaningful assessment across neonatal healthcare settings.

References

Hammer, J., & Newth, C. J. L. (1994). Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28).

Poghosian, F., Christara, A., Chatziagorou, E., Tsanakas, I., & Syrpi, M. K. Greek adaptation of the Infants Respiratory Physiotherapy Questionnaire (IRPH-28) using the independent back-translation methodology.