A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice of Breathing Exercises among Patients with COPD in Tertiary Care Hospitals

Methods A cross sectional non experimental descriptive design was adopted for this study. A simple random sampling was applied for selection of samples. A socio-demographic questionnaire was designed and the association between socio-demographic profiles and knowledge and practice were assessed using statistical inferences. The knowledge regarding the breathing exercises was assessed by using a structured questionnaire and practice were observed using a self reported rating scale and an observation checklist. Background In 2011, almost 24 million adults over the age of 40 had COPD in India and this would increase by 34 % to approximately 32 million by 2020. The mortality rate due to COPD in India is the second highest in the world and has got a huge economic burden. Even though breathing exercises in long term can reduce dyspnoea and incidence of exacerbation, breathing exercises are not used routinely as a part of treatment. Since there is no cure for COPD, a primary goal of most treatments is the reduction and management of breathlessness. Aim The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of breathing exercises and to find the association between knowledge and practice of breathing exercises among patients with COPD in tertiary care hospitals and to associate it with selected socio demographic variable. Results Out of one hundred sample majority of sample belonged in the age group of 61 to 70 years and were males (76 %). The mean knowledge score of sample was 8.87 with sd 3.35 which fell into the category of average knowledge score and mean practice score was 14.36 with sd 5.82 from out of 55 samples who were having knowledge about breathing exercises. There was a fair degree of significant positive linear correlation between knowledge and practice of breathing exercises ( r = 0.73, pless than 0.0001). Socio demographic variables like age, education, occupation, monthly income, regular treatment, place of residence and awareness of breathing exercises were significant to knowledge of breathing exercises whereas practice was significant only with occupation and monthly income. Conclusions The results of present study, knowledge score (12 %) practice score (9 %), showed that there was a need for teaching about disease condition and the correct method of practicing breathing exercises to maintain a quality and prodductive life.