English

Abstract

The study was aimed to assess the effect of breathing exercises on biophysiological parameters and quality of life of patients with COPD at a tertiary care centre. OBJECTIVES: were to assess selected biophysiologic parameters of COPD patients and to assess quality of life of COPD patients and to assess the effect of breathing exercise on quality of life. METHODOLOGY: 40 subjects were selected from Medical wards of Sree Gokulam Medical College Hospital, Venjaramoodu, Trivandrum, and were assessed using tools like questionnaires to collect socio-demographic data, biophysiological parameters, dyspnea assessment scale and fatigue severity scale to assess the dyspnea and fatigue severity respectively and clinical COPD questionnaire to assess the quality of life of COPD patients. Breathing exercise was given 15 minutes 3 times a day during post admission days and on discharge a leaflet was given for reinforcement and follow up was done through telephonic inquiry. Pre-test was given before intervention and post test was conducted on return to OPD to all the participants. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The present study findings showed that there was significant difference in mean pre and post-test values at p<0.01 for respiratory rate, fatigue severity score and quality of life score and at p<0.05 for heart rate. Change in dyspnea grading was also found to be significant. There was no significant difference in mean pre and post-test values of PEFR. INTERPRETATION: The findings of the present study revealed that breathing exercises can improve biophysiological parameters like respiratory rate, heart rate, dyspnea and fatigue while it could not cause any improvement in PEFR of COPD patients. So this intervention can be practised in care of patients with COPD in various settings.