Health experts worry that some people who use Covid-19 to self-quarantine do not have enough information on how to use small life-saving devices.

Pulse oximeter photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

There are currently more than 1,500 Covid-19 patients isolated at home, many of whom use pulse oximeters.

The device is clamped on your finger and measures your heart rate and the oxygen saturation or level in your blood.

Dr Vanessa Weenick, spokesperson for the General Practitioners of the New Zealand Medical Association, said: “It does this by emitting light and measuring how much it reflects back.”

"Then the small screen will show a number showing the percentage. So, as far as Covid is concerned, we want to make sure that people’s oxygen saturation is above 95%.

But if it is lower than this value, it is a warning sign, she said.

"This means that the oxygen that enters your lungs does not enter your blood. This is usually because your lungs are full of fluid, just like people have pneumonia."

Winnick said it would make people feel that they were hypoxic.

"They will feel unable to breathe and may feel dizzy."

However, a new study in the UK shows that oximeters can exaggerate the oxygen levels in darker skinned people.

British Health Minister Sajid Javid is very worried. He ordered a review of whether medical equipment is equally effective, regardless of the patient’s race.

In New Zealand, Maori and Pacific Islanders account for approximately 72% of the current epidemic.

The clinical director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Dr. Bryan Betty, said that the device is just a tool for monitoring Covid-19 patients.

"It should be part of the package of care. If there are any problems, you have a number to call the doctor or nurse, register every day, or check the situation every two days, read the readings and talk about the patient's feelings.

"In terms of home isolation, the program is very, very important."

He said that currently the equipment we commonly use is the best, and it can quickly show whether the condition of a person who is unwell is declining.

Debbie Sorenson, chief executive of the Pacific Islands Medical Association, said that expecting people to use medical devices without proper supervision can be a big problem.

"There is an assumption that clicking on YouTube or a video clip that shows you how to use the device, or reading a piece of paper is actually enough to tell people how to use the device. I don’t think this is always the case.

"Of course, in the Pacific community, we have a lot of people, English is not the first language, so relying on this method is not that useful."

Sorensen said the instructions that come with the devices are often unclear, and more effort is needed to explain how to use them.

"I think more consideration needs to be given to how people communicate with others, such as talking with someone through phone calls, video calls, or WhatsApp or other types of video calls that we are accustomed to, so that people can be sure they know how to use the device and how to use it. do what.

"And it's not just relying on this as the only way for them to decide if they are sick."

Dr. Winnick said it’s vital that people in self-isolation know that if they feel they need emergency help, they should seek emergency help.

"If they feel very uncomfortable, short of breath, and feel like they can't breathe, then this is more important than the numbers on the machine," she said.

“It’s very important for people to understand that if they feel bad and the numbers don’t seem to match their feelings, then they need to seek medical attention instead of waiting for someone to tell them that they can receive treatment. It’s very important to do it.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said that people who are quarantined for Covid-19 at home will be called regularly to check their condition, and most people who self-quarantine will get a pulse oximeter within 24 hours.

They said in a statement: "In most cases, pulse oximeters are used to ensure that blood oxygen levels do not decrease, which may require direct medical attention."

The spokesperson said that everyone who gets the device will receive a leaflet explaining how to use it.

"The patients were asked to use them 3 times a day (morning, noon and evening) and to record the results. They were also asked to check whether they felt unwell and pay attention to the symptoms.

"If the oxygen level is below 95% or the heart rate is above 100, the case is asked to contact their health team."

The spokesperson said that the health team of those in contact with Covid-19 requested that the pulse oximeter results be provided and recorded.

They said that anyone with Covid-19 should call an ambulance if they have chest pain or shortness of breath.

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