Aims and objectives

Determination of the effect of deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo on dyspnoea, anxiety and quality of life in patients who are hospitalized for COVID-19 and have dyspnoea.

Backround

COVID-19 is a viral infection that can cause severe pulmonary disease. Deep breathing exercise with Triflo in patients with COVID-19 may contribute to the reduction/elimination of dyspnoea and anxiety, and improvement of respiratory and quality of life.

Design

The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial and conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 guidelines.

Methods

The study was conducted in the clinic of COVID-19 of a tertiary hospital. A total of 44 eligible participants were enrolled from January to April 2021. Primary outcomes included oxygen saturation in the blood, respiratory assessment and dyspnoea level. Secondary outcomes included anxiety and quality of life. In the statistical analysis of the data, the independent sample t-test, Wilcoxon test, Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation were used to examine the intervention effect on primary outcomes and secondary outcomes, according to numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation and conformity to normal distribution.

Results

It was determined that the patients in the deep breathing group had a statistically significant shorter hospitalization time (3.04 ± 0.65), higher SpO2 level (97.05 ± 1.46) and higher quality of life (77.82 ± 6.77) compared with the patients in the usual care group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Deep breathing exercise with Triflo increases the SpO2 level and quality of life in patients with COVID-19 and contributes to a decrease in dyspnoea and anxiety levels. Moreover, the duration of hospital stay is shortened in patients who are applied deep breathing exercise with Triflo.

Relevance to clinical practice

With deep breathing exercise applied with Triflo, respiratory rate reaches normal limits in a short time, SpO2 levels increase significantly, and quality of life improves significantly in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Clinical trials registration number

https://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT04696562.