Determining effect of controlled breathing on sleep quality in patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background & Aim: The aim of this clinical trial study was to evaluate sleep quality in patients with chronic lung disease and the role of controlled breathing to improve the quality of sleep. Methods & Materials: Sixty-four patients with chronic lung disease in two group (experimental and control group) enrolled in a 7 weeks. Before interventions, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Demographic Information Questionnaire were completed by the samples in the control and intervention groups. Next, the pursed-lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing and coughing techniques were taught to the experimental group, whereas the control group received the typical treatments. Seven weeks after the breathing exercises the PSQI was once again completed by the samples in the control and intervention groups. The resulting data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The results show that after controlling the differences of mean groups sleep quality scores in pre-exam, the intervention (breathing exercises) has affected on the means of the dependent variable scores (quality of sleep) in post-exam (P < 0.001). In other words, the sleep quality of intervention group has improved. Conclusion: The researcher recommends the administrators, decision makers, and members of treatment groups to use non-pharmacologic methods and incorporate controlled breathing exercises into the sleep management and improvement programs designed for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.