Impact of Performing Breathing and Coughing Exercises on Prevention/Reduction of Bronchial Asthma Complications among Adult Asthmaticus in Shebien EI-Kome Hospitals

Abstract

Literature review cited that breathing and coughing exere ises are very effective and beneficial for asthmatic patients, as they can open collapsed alveoli, strengthen the respiratory muscles and aid in the movement of mucus in the airways. So the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of r;erforming effective breathing and coughing exercises on patient's outcome as indtcated by: - vital signs, asthma symptoms, dyspnea analogue score, arterial blood gases values (Pa02, Pac02, Pli), sputum analysis, chest X-ray (hype inflation of the chest) , frequency of nocturnal asthma and length of hospitalization.

The study sample was purposive in nature, consisted of 60 subjects divided randomly into study and control groups (30 subjects each). The 3tudy was conducted over 10 months in the medical units of the teaching and university hospitals in Menoufiya. The study group subjects consisted 20 males and 10 females in each of the two groups. Their age ranged from 35 to 50 years old with a mean age of (41.1 ± 4.9 and 39.2 ± 5.7) for the two groups respectively. Patients in both groups were pre-tested, immediately post-tested and lastly tested after one month (tool implementation).

A questionnaire sheet was used to collect demographic data, health habits, and information about breathing and coughing exercises. An observational checklist was designed for observing the performance of the breathing and coughing exercise techniques. As well, dyspnea was assessed by dyspnea analogue scale. In addition to respiratory assessment and medical data sheet.

(a): Dyspnea among study group subjects had significantly decreased thau those among control group subjects, (b): Asthma symptoms of the study group subjects had significantly improved as compared to the control group subjects, (c): Vital signs of the study group subjects had significantly improved as compared to the control group subjects, (d): Arterial blood gases partially improved (Pa02 ) among the study group subjects as compared to the control group subjects, (e): The mean knowledge scores of the study group subjects had significantly increased than those of the control group subjects, (f): The mean practice scores among the study group subjects were significantly higher than those among the control group subjects, (g): As well positive correlation between knowledge and practice was found among the patients who received breathing and coughing exercise as compared to the control group subjects, and (h): Hospitalization period among study group subjects were significantly shorter than those among control group subjects.

In conclusions, enrichment of patient's knowledge and skills of breathing and coughing exercise seemed to have a positive impact on improvement of the asthma symptoms as well as on reduction of its complications.