When should patients with oxygen therapy maintain a log of their oxygen usage?

Maintaining a log of oxygen usage is crucial for several reasons related to patient care and therapy management. Tracking therapy effectiveness and any symptoms allows both the patient and healthcare providers to monitor how well the oxygen therapy is working.

When patients log their oxygen usage, they can note the specific times and amounts of oxygen used, as well as any changes in their symptoms or overall condition. This information can be invaluable during medical appointments, as it helps healthcare professionals assess whether the current treatment plan is effective or if adjustments are needed. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive view over time, rather than just at specific times, which improves decision-making regarding the patient's treatment.

In contrast, only tracking oxygen use when experiencing symptoms may miss important data during periods of stability. Logging solely during doctor visits or after changes to the oxygen devices would not provide a complete picture of how the therapy is influencing the patient's health over time.