Asian Pacific Journal of Nursing

EFFECT OF RESPIRATORY EXERCISES ON CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Sheeba Wiselin C* and Maneesha GL

sheebawiselin@gmail.com

Effect, Respiratory exercises, Clinical manifestations, Patients with COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is known for causing extensive morbidity. COPD patients of all degrees of severity appear to benefit from respiratory exercises. The present study is intended to “assess the effect of respiratory exercises on clinical manifestations of patients with COPD in selected old age homes at Thiruvananthapuram”. The objectives of the study were to identify the clinical manifestations in patients with COPD before and after giving respiratory exercises, to assess the effect of respiratory exercises on clinical manifestations of patients with COPD and find out the association between clinical manifestations of patients with COPD and selected socio demographic variables. The study was based on Betty Neuman’s system model. Quantitative experimental approach was used for this study. Convenience sampling was used to select 40 samples. Patients with COPD in experimental group were selected from Day care centre with old age home for women Poojapura, Asha bhavan for men Poojapura and control group from Care home pulayanarkotta, Saigram, Thonnakkal. The tool used for this study consist of questionnaire to collect baseline information, cough questionnaire and rating scale to assess the symptoms of COPD and observation check list to assess the signs of COPD. Respiratory exercises (pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic exercises and jump lung exercises) were given to experimental group for 5 weeks. Data analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between the mean clinical manifestations of COPD in experimental and control group. There was significant association between severity of cough and gender of patients with COPD. Respiratory exercises are effective in reducing clinical manifestations of patients with COPD.