scholarly journals The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Inhaler Training in Patients with COPD on the Severity of Dyspnea and Life Quality: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Author(s):  
YASEMİN CEYHAN ◽  
PINAR TEKİNSOY KARTIN

Abstract Background: Severe dyspnea and poor quality of life are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The most important reason for this situation is the wrong applications in inhaler treatment. In addition, inhaler treatments that supporting non-pharmacological methods increases the effectiveness of the drug. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of breathing exercises and inhaler training for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients on the severity of dyspnea and life quality.Methods: The research is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 67 with COPD who complied. The patients who were randomized in two groups that Intervention 1 group were given pursed lip breathing exercise and inhaler training and Intervention 2 group were given only inhaler training. A follow-up after 4 weeks was carried out in both groups. Patient outcomes in both groups were COPD assessment test (CAT), Modified medical research council (mMRC), and St. George's respiratory questionnaire scales (SGRQ). This study followed CONSORT checklist for randomized conrolled trials. In data analysis independent t, Mann-Whitney U, ANOVA, Wilcoxon analysis, and Pearson Chi-square tests were used.Results: Pursed lips exercise and inhaler drug use skills of patients in the both group increased (p<0.001). The median value of the CAT and mMRC scores are is statistically significant for both groups (p<0.005). The mean of life quality scores of patients in both groups decreased and this result was found statistically significant in all sub-dimensions and in the total scale score for two groups (p<0.001). Although the increase in the quality of life and the decrease in the severity of dyspnea of the patients in both groups were significant, the two groups were not superior to each other (p>0.05).Conclusions: As a result of the study, it was found that the skill of applying inhaler and life quality of the patients increased, the severity of dyspnea decreased. Supporting inhaler treatments with non-pharmacological methods can increase drug efficacy and quality of life. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry registration number: NCT04739488. Registered on 21 Feb 2021.

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