Breathing better: A tech‐monitored study of positive expiratory pressure and reading aloud for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

BackgroundBreathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing and positive expiratory pressure (PEP), relieve breathlessness in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).AimThis study aimed to investigate the effects of breathing exercises with PEP and reading aloud on vital signs, fatigue level, severity of dyspnoea and respiratory function parameters in patients with COPD.DesignThe study followed a randomized controlled trial of COPD patients from a single hospital in eastern Turkey.MethodsThe study included 103 patients who were randomly assigned to receive pre‐reading exercises, breathing exercises with a PEP device or no intervention for 8 weeks.ResultsThe use of a PEP device improved oxygen saturation, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) values and reduced fatigue and dyspnoea severity. Reading aloud lowered the mean arterial pressure and reduced fatigue and dyspnoea severity.ConclusionThe study concludes that PEP devices and reading aloud can improve respiratory function in patients with COPD. Additionally, reading aloud is an accessible, easy‐to‐implement and economically feasible method for treating COPD symptoms.