Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation program on patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

ABSTRACT

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is a long-term lung disease that reduces airflow in and out of the lungs making it difficult to breathe, it is a leading cause of disability and death in the world. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rehabilitation program on patient with COPD. This study was conducted at chest dispensaries within Cairo governorate which comprised 11 chest dispensaries, six of them were chosen for the implementation of rehabilitation program according to high attendance rate. A purposive sample of 60 patients with COPD were included 33 patients as experimental group and 27 patients for control group. For data collection four tools were usedl] an interviewing Questionnaire, 2] Observation checklists to assess the patient's performance, 3] Patients' Medical Record, and 4] Physical Examination Sheet. Results of this study elaborated that the majority of patients with COPD who attending rehabilitation program session more knowledgeable about self care measures, the study also showed remarkable improvement in patient's performance regarding use of inhaler, deep breathing, pursed lips breathing, coughing techniques and use of spirometer. The study recommended that, pulmonary rehabilitation should be made available to all appropriate patients with COPD, raising awareness of COPD among the general public and health professionals and Concentrate on primary prevention of COPD as reduce the prevalence of tobacco smoking in the general population and more specifically in young people