Table 2

Treatments used by patients in the study, and the Pearson correlation with age, age at diagnosis and years since diagnosis with usage (scored 3 = 'At present', 2 = 'In the past' and 1 = 'Never used').

Usage

Correlation of usage with:

"Never used"

"In the past"

"At present"

Age

Age at diagnosis

Years since diagnosis

Regular antibiotics

10 (11%)

36 (39%)

46 (50%)

.042 (NS)

.227 (NS)

.236 (NS)

Bronchodilators (inhaler or tablets)

15 (17%)

23 (25%)

53 (58%)

.166 (NS)

.122 (NS)

.008 (NS)

Mucolytics to thin the sputum

75 (89%)

6 (7%)

3 (4%)

.029 (NS)

.092 (NS)

-.046 (NS)

Physiotherapy

1 (1%)

21 (23%)

69 (76%)

-.139 (NS)

-.022 (NS)

-.174 (NS)

Breathing exercises and techniques

11(12%)

13 (14%)

68 (74%)

.119 (NS)

.228 (NS)

-.120 (NS)

Expectorants

64 (73%)

19 (22%)

5 (6%)

.409 (p < .001)

.420 (p = .001)

.176 (NS)

Antacids or other drugs for heartburn or reflux

64 (72%)

16 (18%)

9 (10%)

.380 (p < .001)

.398 (p = .002)

.101 (NS)

McManus et al. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2003 3:4   doi:10.1186/1471-2466-3-4