The effectiveness of the "I COUGH" care program on dyspnea, respiratory parameters, mobility and pain after major abdominal surgery

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of the I COUGH care program following major abdominal surgery to heart rate, blood pressure, dyspnea, oxygen saturation, pulmonary function, mobility, and pain after major abdominal surgery. A total of 60 adult individuals aged between 30 and 60 years (mean age of 39.9±8.82) comprising 13 males and 47 females underwent major abdominal surgery requiring general anesthesia and hospitalization were invited to study. Patients were randomly assigned to either the Control Group (CG, n=30) or the Experimental Group (EG, n=30) using the block randomization method. Patients in the EG participated in the I COUGH care program included flow-incentive spirometer, oral care, coughing and breathing exercises, patient, and family education, getting out of bed, and elevating the head of the bed by more than 30 degrees for 3 days post-surgery. The patients in the CG did not undergo any interventions. All participants were assessed in terms of vital signs as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. Moreover, dyspnea was assessed using the Modified Borg dyspnea Scale, pulmonary functions were evaluated using spirometry, mobility was assessed by Activity and Mobility Promotion scale and pain assessed Visual Analog Scale. Data were collected from all patients at baseline 10 h after the first day of surgery and on the day of discharge from the hospitals. The findings of the present study revealed that the I COUGH care program effectively improved pulmonary function and blood oxygenation, reduced the incidence of dyspnea, increased mobility, and decreased postoperative pain, with a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, the findings indicated that the I COUGH program is an effective and significantly improved the pulmonary function and blood oxygenation of the patients. Moreover, the program reduced the incidence of dyspnea, increased the mobility, and decreased the postoperative pain after major abdominal surgery. Key words: I COUGH Care Program, Dyspnea, Respiratory Parameters, Mobility, Pain, Major Abdominal Surgery.