Abstract
Background Dyspnea and fatigue are the most mutual symptoms known to be present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. COPD patients have extra trouble breathing out fully. They can apply relaxed breathing techniques any time taking a breath such as following coughing or physical activity. By training to preserve energy with daily chores, patients can perform many physical actions with less dyspnea.
Aim The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of an educational intervention on knowledge, practices, and disease severity in patients with COPD.
Participants and methods A purposive sample of 100 adult male patients was selected randomly from the Respiratory Clinic at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Patients were assessed using a clinical sheet, patients' dyspnea knowledge questionnaire, patients' practices observational checklists, the Modified Borg Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Results More than 50% of patients had insufficient knowledge and 100% of them reported that they did not practice respiratory muscles exercises before the educational intervention. These improved after the intervention, showing a highly statistically significant difference. In addition, dyspnea and anxiety improved in COPD patients who had received supervised guidelines.
Conclusion and recommendations Application of dyspnea-management guidelines has enhanced patients' knowledge of their disease, practice, as well as dyspnea and anxiety levels. Health instruction materials for COPD patients can be useful by means of providing simplified guidelines, explanatory videos, leaflets, and/or brochures to clarify, avoid, and manage dyspnea. An additional estimate of the outcome of instructions to avoid and improve dyspnea and distress reactions in a larger sample size is proposed.