To Assess the Effectiveness of Selected Breathing Exercises among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Mortality rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more than 3 million people every year, making it 3rd largest cause of death in the world. It has been estimated that by the year 2030. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will become the third biggest cause of death. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive irreversible airway disease characterized by emphysema and chronic bronchitis, resulting in breathlessness, cough and sputum as the disease progresses, subjects with COPD experience increasing deterioration of their health-related quality of life (HRQOL), with greater impairment in their ability to work and declining participation in social and physical activities. Hence practicing pursed lip breathing exercise in their daily routine will improve their breathing pattern and quality of life. Objectives: 1. To assess the breathing pattern of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient. 2. To assess the effectiveness of selected breathing exercises among the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. 3. To associate the effectiveness of selected breathing exercises among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient with their demographic variables. Materials and Methods: The research approach used for the study was interventional evaluatory approach. The study was conducted in respiratory unit at Wardha City Maharashtra, India, using one group pre test post test design without control group. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used for selecting 60 COPD patients. On the first day pre test assessment of breathing pattern with the help of borg rating scale and provided pursed lip breathing exercise for 20 minutes, 2 times in a day and it was continued for 15 days followed by post test on the 15th day. The data collected, tabulated and analysed in terms of objectives of study using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean post test score. The overall comparison of selected breathing exercise among COPD patients at rest pre test score was higher 3.48 with SD of +/- 1.25 when compare with at rest post test score which was 0.91 with SD of +/- 0.85.The statistical Student's paired t test implies that the difference in the selected breathing exercise among COPD patients was found to be 18.98 which is statistically significant at 0.05% level of significance. Also the overall comparison of selected breathing exercise among COPD patients during activity pre test score was higher 7.95 with SD of +/- 1.50 when compared with during activity post test score which was 2.76 with SD of +/- 1.02. The statistical Student's paired t test implies that the difference in the selected breathing exercise among COPD patients was found to be 18.98 which is statistically significant at 0.05% level of significance. Hence it is statistically interpreted that effectiveness of selected breathing exercises among COPD patients at rest and during activity in post test was effective. The tabulated values was much higher than the calculated' values at 5% level of significance, also the calculated 'p-value which was much higher than the acceptable level of significance i.e. 'p'=0.05. Hence the association of effectiveness of selected breathing exercises is statistically not associated with demographic variables. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease patients who practiced pursed lip breathing exercise 20 minutes, 2 times a day for 15 days had improvement of the breathing pattern which was statistically proved. Hence pursed lip breathing exercise was cost effective, non invasive, and highly feasible. Hence the researcher concluded that pursed lip breathing exercise can be practice as an effective intervention on improving breathing pattern among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.