title: Effects of guided deep breathing on breathlessness and the breathing pattern in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a double-blind randomized control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether guided deep breathing using a device improves breathlessness, quality of life, and breathing pattern in moderate and severe stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 150 patients participated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial in a four-week intervention and a four-month follow-up. Participants were randomized into a guided deep breathing group (GDBG), music listening group (MLG), or sitting still group (SSG). The patients' symptom score using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and a Global Rating Change scale (GRC) was applied to measure breathlessness as primary outcome. The activity score and impact score of SRGQ, and breathing pattern were secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive effects of the GDBG were detected in GRC scale in breathlessness at four weeks (p=0.03) with remaining effect compared to MLG (p=0.04), but not to SSG at four months follow-up. GDBG showed positive effect for respiratory rate (p<0.001) at four weeks follow-up. A positive significant change (p<0.05-0.01) was found in all groups of SGRQ symptom score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDBG had a beneficial effect on respiratory pattern and breathlessness. MLG and SSG also yielded significant improvements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Guided deep breathing may be used as a self-management procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Medicine, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: c.r.borge@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Borge
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne Marit
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mengshoel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omenaas
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moum
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg Sweden and Centre for Person-centered care, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Martha P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lein
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Astrid K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wahl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Breathlessness; COPD; Quality of life; Randomized control trial; Self-management