Determination of the Effect of the Fowler and Prone Position on Oxygen Saturation in Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the Fowler position and prone position on oxygen saturation in patients receiving treatment in clinics with the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease. Method: A total of 40 patients, admitted to the pandemic ward who met the inclusion criteria, were included in the quasi-experimental type study without any sampling. The patients were first given the Fowler position and then the prone position. There was a time interval of 15 minutes wait between the two positions. For each position, peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiratory and blood pressure values were obtained at initial position placement, after the 30th minute and every hour for the first four hours. Results: The mean age of the participants was 57.57 +/- 12.64 years. Respiratory distress, cough, fever, weakness, sweating and headache were the main symptoms. A total of 22.5% of them had a diagnosis of hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus. The requirement for the positioning was found to be 95% in the first five days after admittance. After treatment, 85% of them were discharged home. The mean oxygen saturation values of the patients for every hour in the Prone position were 93.15 +/- 1.718 (p=0.035), 93.60 +/- 1.809 (p=0.019), 93.93 +/- 1.774 (p=0.006) and 94.15 +/- 1.718 (p=0.002), respectively in the first four hours. These findings were statistically significant compared to the Fowler position. Respiratory values in the prone position were 17.30 +/- 1.159 (p=0.005), 17.20 +/- 1.344 (p=0.010), 17.20 +/- 1.181 (p=0.005), and 17.05 +/- 1.280 (p=0.001), respectively in the first four hours, which were statistically lower than in the Fowler position. There was no significant difference in the mean heart rate and blood pressure in both positions (p>0.05). Conclusion: The prone position was found to have a positive effect on oxygen saturation levels when Fowler and Prone positions were applied in patients receiving treatment with the diagnosis of COVID-19 in hospital wards. Therefore, it is recommended that patients admitted with the diagnosis of COVID-19 be placed in the prone position at regular intervals.