Effect of crude herb moxibustion combined with rehabilitation training on life quality of patients ;with stable-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in Nanning communities / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To learn the effects of crude herb moxibustion combined with rehabilitation training on the recovery of pulmonary functions and quality of life of patients with stable-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in Nanning communities. Methods Two hundred patients with stable-stage COPD, sampled from Nanning communities and used as the subjects of this study, were divided into the experiment group and the control group by the random number table method. Patients in the control group were given conventional medication and community health care education and guides;Patients in the experiment group were not only offered the same treatment as mentioned above, but treated during dog days and the coldest days of winter with moxibustion medicine cakes which were applied accurately on selected acupuncture points, together with moxibustion with moxa cone done on the cakes. Treatment was done 6 times in each course of treatment, and 2 courses were given, combined with rehabilitation training. Examination of pulmonary functions was conducted for all patients before and after the treatment and St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaires (SGRQ) were distributed to them. Results Forced vital capacity patients, forced expiratory volume in first second, the percentage of forced expiratory volume in first second and forced vital capacity of experimental group before the intervention were (2.27 ± 0.36) L, (1.56 ± 0.30) L, (44.81 ± 5.35) %, while six months after the intervention were (3.36 ± 0.42) L, (2.25 ± 0.27) L, (65.38 ±8.08)%. The difference was statistically significant (t=18.90, 16.40, 20.36, P 0.05). Differences between two groups before intervention had no statistical significance (t = 0.17, 0.43, 0.47, P > 0.05), and differences between two groups after the intervention were statistically significant (t=10.62, 11.62, 14.99, P 0.05). Intervention before comparing differences between two groups had no statistical significance (t=0.09-0.34, P > 0.05). Intervention after comparing differences between two groups was statistically significant (t=10.88-26.22, P<0.01). Conclusions Clinically, crude herb moxibustion combined with rehabilitation training is to some extent conducive to delaying the decrease in pulmonary functions, reducing complications, and improving the quality of life of patients with stable-stage COPD.