Design of Traditional Nebulizer for Patients with Coughs

Cough is a common respiratory disorder that may become chronic in the elderly and reduce quality of life. Limited access to conventional nebulizers necessitates the development of more affordable inhalation therapy alternatives. This study aimed to design a herbal-based traditional nebulizer as an alternative inhalation therapy for patients with productive cough. This study used a Research and Development (R&D) approach with the ADDIE model. It was conducted at Griya Sakinah Nursing Home, Blitar, Indonesia, from January to April 2025. Data were collected using expert validation and field-testing checklists rated on a 1–5 scale, which underwent expert judgment to ensure content validity. Validation involved three experts, followed by a limited trial on two elderly participants. Expert validation yielded a feasibility score of 77.25% (feasible), while participant trials showed 81.17% (very feasible). The device consists of a clay pot heater, plastic tubing, an aluminum sheath, and Piper betle leaves with mucolytic and expectorant properties. No significant adverse effects were observed. This device is potentially beneficial, practical, and cost-effective for use in resource-limited settings. However, the very small sample size limits generalizability.