World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES ON RESPIRATORY STATUS

T. S. Christal Jancy Msc (N)* and Vinoli S. G. Msc (N)

ABSTRACT

Statement of the problem: “A study to evaluate effectiveness of deep breathing exercises to improve the respiratory status among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in selected hospitals in Kanyakumari District”. Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019. Nearly 90% of COPD deaths in those under 70 years of age occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Breathing exercises are a direct training method for respiratory muscles, and they are highly targeted and less restricted by the environment. It is an effective home-based pulmonary rehabilitation method that can be practiced independently by patients with COPD. There are various types of breathing exercises, including diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lips breathing, yoga breathing, breathing gymnastics, and singing. Objectives: The present study was aimed 1) to assess the respiratory status before and after giving deep breathing exercises among patients with COPD in experimental group and control group. 2) To evaluate the effectiveness of deep breathing exercises in improving the respiratory status by comparing the post test scores of experimental group and control group. 3) To find out the association between the post-test level of respiratory status and selected socio demographic variables in experimental group and control group. Study design: Is quasi experimental design- pre test post-test control group design. Materials and Methods: convenient sampling technique was adopted to select the samples based on the sampling criteria. Pre test was done to assess the respiratory status of COPD patients using incentive spirometer. Then deep breathing exercises was taught to COPD patients and asked to practice it regularly for 3-5 times daily for 7 days. After 7 days the post test was done to assess the respiratory status of COPD patients by incentive spirometer in both Experimental and control group. Results: In experimental group the mean post test score was 780 with standard deviation 215.18.Whereas in control group the mean post-test was 412.66, with standard deviation 247.72. The mean difference was 367.34. The obtained „t? value was 11.85, which is more than the table value P=2.000 with the df 58 at 0.05 level of significance. It was inferred that the respiratory status was improved after deep breathing exercises among COPD patients. Conclusion: The study concluded that, Deep breathing exercises are found to be effective in improving the respiratory status of COPD patients.

[Full Text Article]   [Download Certificate]