Effects of physical exercises (self-care) on quality of life by asthmatic patients

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, chronic pulmonary diseases are the most common diseases, which cause high rates of mortality in community. In addition to long-term duration of these diseases, a long-term therapeutic health care is needed. Among chronic pulmonary diseases, asthma is the most common disease that has high prevalence and incidence. In spite of the availability of different drugs for its treatment, morbidity and mortality due to asthma have increased in our country and other communities. Asthma results in more than 5000 deaths and at least 47000 hospitalizations. Of the most important interventions to prevent asthma mortality and to reduce inappropriate use of health care services are self-care practices and pulmonary rehabilitation in asthmatic patients, which result in improvement of quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of physical self-care on quality of life of asthmatic patients in six different domains including signs and symptoms of asthma, mood function, physical activity, social function, general perception of health and pulmonary function tests.

Materials and methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study and the samples included 21 asthmatic patients selected based on the purposed sampling method participating in a self-care program. Data were gathered by test re-test design. Patients performed physical exercises in 3 stages including warm up, exercise, and cool-down during a four-week program (each time forty five minutes) under control and supervision of the researchers. Data were collected by a standard asthma quality of life questionnaire and also pulmonary function tests (spirometry). The questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the program before physical exercises and four weeks after the application of program. Parameters considered in spirometry were FEV1, FVC, FEV1/ FVC and PEF. Statistical analysis was carried out through t-paired, Wilcoxon and t tests by SPSS soft ware.

Results: Findings of this study indicated that the self-care program was effective in improvement of quality of life of asthmatic patients. It showed also significant improvement in PEF (P<0.05), signs and symptoms (P = 0/0001), mood function (P = 0/0001), physical activity (P =0/0001), social function (P =0/0002) and general perception of health (P =0/0002) of these patients.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the self-care program was highly effective in improvement of quality of life in asthmatic patients.