Incentive Spirometry or Cough and Deep Breathe? That is the question

Coughing and deep breathing is equally effective as incentive spirometry according to an integrative review led by Michael Rupp, RN of Jersey Shore University.  What are the clinical effects of this?  Patients need to be assessed to determine which modality is needed to promote pulmonary health after surgery.  Some older patients struggle with the use of an incentive spirometer.  If you have better results when they cough and deep breathe, you are not depriving them of a better overall outcome.