Which of the following would indicate that the prescribed airway clearance efforts are effective?

The most effective indication that the prescribed airway clearance efforts are having a positive impact is if the patient reports feeling that they can breathe better. This subjective improvement suggests that the airway clearance techniques are facilitating the removal of mucus or secretions that may have been obstructing the airways.

Although other options may provide insights into airway changes, they do not directly reflect the effectiveness of the treatment from the patient's perspective. For example, expectoration of secretions dissipating might indicate that mucus is not being cleared effectively. The development of rhonchi during the clearance procedure often signifies that there is still mucus present in the airways, which may suggest ineffective clearance rather than improvement. Diminished breath sounds may not necessarily correlate with effective airway clearance as they could indicate other underlying issues.

Therefore, the patient's subjective report of improved breathing is a direct and practical measure of the effectiveness of airway clearance efforts.