Breathibg Exercises and Inhaler Trainingfor Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients (COPD)

The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Inhaler Training for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients on the Severity of Dyspnea and Life Quality

The most common symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is shortness of breath and causes a decrease in the patient's quality of life. The best way to relieve shortness of breath is inhaler therapy. However, it is known that patients frequently apply this treatment incorrectly. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of breathing exercises and inhaler training for COPD patients on the severity of dyspnea and life quality. For this, two patient groups with a total of 67 people were included in the study. While one group was trained on inhaler drug use, the other group was taught breathing exercises in addition to the inhaler drug use training. Patients were asked to continue the practices they learned regularly for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, it was observed that shortness of breath decreased and the quality of life increased in both patient groups.

This training was given to both intervention groups. How the patients used their inhaler medication was evaluated. The steps to use the correct inhaler medication were taught sequentially. It was applied with the patient. At the end of the training, brochures prepared by the researchers were given to the patients.

This training was given only to the group that received breathing exercise and inhaler training. Pursed lips breathing exercises were taught to the patients. Patients were asked to continue their breathing exercise for 10 minutes before using their inhaler medication. Thus, it was evaluated whether breathing exercises performed before using inhaler drugs provided benefit on drug effectiveness.

Consisted of 18 items including the steps of breathing exercises and inhaler utilization to be applied to breathing exercises and inhaler group.

It was administered to patients in breathing ezercises and inhaler training group when they were first enrolled in the study.

Consisted of 10 items including only the skill of applying inhaler to be applied to the both group. Correct steps were evaluated as 1 point and wrong steps as 0 points. It was administered to patients when they were first enrolled in the study and when they came for control four weeks later.

It was administered to patients in inhaler training group when they were first enrolled in the study.

The scale developed by Jones et al. (2009) is used to measure the health status of individuals with COPD.

It is a quality of life questionnaire specific to patients with COPD developed by Jones and Forde (2008).

It was developed by the British Medical Research Council in order to provide information about the degree of dyspnea experienced by the patient based on the patient's activity and the patient's perception of the disease. As it is a one-dimensional scale Cronbach's α coefficient could not be calculated.

The scale developed by Jones et al. (2009) is used to measure the health status of individuals with COPD.

Consisted of 18 items including the steps of breathing exercises and inhaler utilization to be applied to breathing exercises and inhaler group.

It was administered to patients in breathing ezercises and inhaler training group when they came for control four weeks later.

Consisted of 10 items including only the skill of applying inhaler to be applied to the both group. Correct steps were evaluated as 1 point and wrong steps as 0 points. It was administered to patients when they were first enrolled in the study and when they came for control four weeks later.

It was administered to patients in inhaler training group when they came for control four weeks later.

It is a quality of life questionnaire specific to patients with COPD developed by Jones and Forde (2008).

It was developed by the British Medical Research Council in order to provide information about the degree of dyspnea experienced by the patient based on the patient's activity and the patient's perception of the disease. As it is a one-dimensional scale Cronbach's α coefficient could not be calculated.

Inclusion Criteria: The individuals over the age of 18, Who had been diagnosed with COPD for at least three months, Using inhalers at least twice a day, Misusing their drug, Had not previously taken breathing exercise training Had not participated in a rehabilitation program Exclusion Criteria: Mental disorders, Communication disabilities, Heart disease that could lead to dyspnea, Unstable angina

Ceyhan Y, Tekinsoy Kartin P. The effects of breathing exercises and inhaler training in patients with COPD on the severity of dyspnea and life quality: a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2022 Aug 26;23(1):707. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06603-3.