The effects of regular respirotory exercise and incentive spirometry cough exercise on respirotory function tests in patients with chest tube

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study in order to determine the effect of breathing-cough exercise or incentive spirometry-cough exercise on pulmonary function tests in chest tube patients. The study was conducted on the patients hospitalized in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic of Kırıkkale University Medical Faculty Research and Application Hospitalbetween 10 May 2017 and 6 March 2019. The sample of the study consisted of 60 patients who were older than 18 years of age and had planned chest tube insertion. The data were collected by using the Introductory Characteristics Form, Patient Follow-up Form and Respiratory Function Test Follow-up Form. Written permission was obtained from Kırıkkale University Clinical Research Ethics Committee and institution. Informed consent was obtained from the patients. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of breathing-cough exercise group, the second group consisted of incentive spirometry-cough exercise group, and the third group consisted of control group.The patient were randomized by simple randomsampling. The patient was given 10 times per hour according to the protocols of respiratory cough-exercise / incentive spirometer-cough exercise for 4 days postoperatively.Pulmonary function tests of the patients were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively on the 2nd day and on the 4th postoperative day. In the evaluation of data, percentage, Kruskal Wallis Variance Analysis, Pearson Exact Chi-square Test, One-Way Variance Analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Independent Sample t Test were used. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of FVC, FEV1, FEV1-FVC, FEF25-75 and PEF values on the postoperative 2nd day (p> 0.05). Postoperative 4th day FEV1 and PEF values of the patients in the Respiration-Cough Exercise group were found to be higher than the other groups and a statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p <0.05). The mean postoperative FVC value of the patients in the Cough Exercise group was higher significantly higher than the other groups (p <0.05). When the pulmonary function tests of the patients were examined, the postoperative 2nd and 4th day FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75 and PEF values were found to be higher in the incentive spirometry group compared to the other groups and a statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p<0.05). As a result, it was found that regular breathing-cough / incentive spirometry-cough exercises had a positive effect on pulmonary function tests in patients undergoing chest tube. According to the results obtained; It is recommended that respiratory-cough exercise / incentive spirometry-cough exercise should be applied regularly by the nurses in accordance with the protocols in the clinics. Key Words:chest tube, incentive spirometry, deep breathing cough exercise, pulmonary function tests, nurse