What should a respiratory therapist evaluate to determine compliance in a patient with a 90 pack-year smoking history in a cessation program?

• A. Pulse oximetry
• B. Blood level of nicotine
• C. Multiple wave-length spectrophotometry
• D. RHb

Answer: (C)

To assess compliance in a patient with a significant smoking history who is participating in a cessation program, evaluating the blood levels of nicotine is crucial. Monitoring blood nicotine levels provides a direct indication of the patient's recent smoking behavior and can effectively reflect their adherence to the cessation program.

In this context, options such as pulse oximetry provide information about oxygen saturation but do not give insights into the patient's smoking status. Similarly, multiple wavelength spectrophotometry or RHb (reduced hemoglobin) might offer useful data in specific clinical scenarios but are not as relevant for assessing smoking compliance directly as blood nicotine levels are. The ability to quantify nicotine can help healthcare providers understand the level of compliance and potentially adjust cessation strategies accordingly.