The effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory functions, functional capacity, fatigue, and quality of life in pediatric cancer patients

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory functions, functional capacity, fatigue and quality of life in pediatric cancer patients. A total of 27 patients, 13 in the training group and 14 in the control group, who received and completed cancer treatment in the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology department of Memorial Şişli Hospital and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the study. Age, gender, diagnosis, height and weight status of the patients participating in the study were recorded. Respiratory function, functional capacity, respiratory muscle strength, fatigue and quality of life were evaluated before and after inspiratory muscle training. In the study, no significant difference was found when the baseline and post-training values of FVC, % FVC, FEV1, %FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF and %PEF in the pulmonary function test of the patients in the training and control groups were compared (p>0.05). In addition, it was concluded that FVC(lt), % FVC, FEV1, %FEV1 and %PEF values increased between pre and post-treatment measurements (p<0.05). There was no difference between the groups in the comparison of the MIP and MEP values obtained after the respiratory muscle strength test and the SpO2, heart rate and walking distance values calculated after 6 MWT between the baseline and post-training values of the patients in the training and control groups (p>0.05). A statistically significant increase was found in favor of the training group in MIP, MEP and walking distance (p<0.05). In the control group, there was a statistically significant increase in MIP, MEP and walking distance in favor of the post-training group (p<0.05). It was found that the training group decreased significantly before and after inspiratory muscle training. It was concluded that physical emotional, social and school baseline values obtained after the pediatric quality of life test did not differ between the groups (p>0.05) It was concluded that the post-training results of the physical, emotional, social and school quality of life levels of the patients in the training group were higher than the pre-training results. Similarly, it was found that the physical, emotional and school related quality of life levels of the patients in the control group increased statistically in favor of post-training (p<0.05).