Effects of an early postoperative walking exercise programme on health status in lung cancer patients recovering from lung lobectomy.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of an early postoperative walking exercise programme on postlobectomy lung cancer patients. BACKGROUND: Few interventional studies on the postoperative health status of lung cancer patients have considered the efficacy of programmes designed to improve critical health variables. DESIGN: A two-group quasi-experimental, longitudinal approach repeated four times examined participant data collected 12-18 hours prior to surgery and again at one, three and six months after surgery. METHODS: We assigned the first 33 enrolled participants to the intervention group and the second 33 to the control group. The intervention was a daily supervised walking exercise programme consisting of 12 weeks of brisk walking exercise that began on the day following transfer to the regular ward along with weekly telephone calls until 12 weeks after discharge. Health status was measured using a structured questionnaire (World Health Organization Quality of Life, brief version) and clinical tests (pulmonary function test and 6-minute walk test). We analysed data using general estimating equations, with p < 0·05 considered significant. RESULTS: Intervention group pulmonary and physical functions were increasingly better over time than those of the control group, with no significant difference in quality of life between the two groups. Compared to the control group, the intervention group earned significantly better values for FVC% at postoperative month 3 and for FEV1 % at postoperative months 3 and 6. Intervention group 6MWT scores were significantly better than those of the control group at postoperative months 1, 3 and 6. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the benefits of an early postoperative walking exercise intervention for pulmonary and physical function in postlobectomy lung cancer patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results may guide the design of appropriate interventions in the future. Clinical trials in other populations are needed to confirm the results of this study.

["Ineffective breathing pattern" care for COPD patients].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term, chronic respiratory disease from which patients never fully recover. COPD patients usually face abnormal aeration caused by the disease. Patients that are unable to breathe and aspirate adequately and maintain lung appropriate expansion and contraction are considered to have ineffective breathing patterns. This causes physical, psychological and behavioral changes in COPD patients and impacts their emotional condition, daily activities and quality of life. Nurses who care for COPD patients with ineffective breathing patters can improve breathing muscle functions, improve respiration and keep the airway clean. In this paper, the author reviews and integrates relevant findings on this subject from the empirical literature in order to assist clinical nurses responsible for the care of COPD patients.

Post-discharge health care needs of patients after lung cancer resection.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the health care needs of patients after surgical resection of lung cancer at discharge and evaluate the significance of factors associated with such needs. BACKGROUND: Other studies have found that symptom distress level, social supports and health beliefs are associated with health care needs. Design. Sixty-two participants were recruited from a thoracic surgery clinic at a medical centre in Taipei from July-December 2005. Data related to demographic variables, disease characteristics, functional status, symptom distress and social support were collected. METHODS: The patients were administered the Karnofsky Performance Scale, the Symptom Distress Scale-Chinese Modified Form, the Social Support Scale (adapted from the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List), the Health Needs Scale and self-reported rating scales for pain. Data were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and linear regression models. RESULTS: Pulmonary function was found to be correlated with the level of need for health care information and physiological care. Self-perceived symptom distress and degree of distress were also correlated with levels of need for information, physiological care and psychosocial care. The level of pain was found to be correlated with the level of need for health care information and physiological care. After controlling for pain level, multivariate analysis revealed that self-perceived symptom severity (p = 0·032) and degree of distress (p = 0·043) were modestly correlated with the need for health care. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function, self-perceived symptom distress, degree of distress and level of pain were correlated with the level of need for health care information and physiological care. Self-perceived symptom severity and degree of distress were independent predictors of health care needs. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Administration of relevant questionnaires to assess postoperative symptom distress may be necessary for optimal disease management.

The effects of asthma education on asthma knowledge and health-related quality of life in Taiwanese asthma patients.

BACKGROUND: Patient education is a critical component of asthma management. Limited data from longitudinal research studies are available from Taiwan to show the effect of asthma education on knowledge and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in asthma patients. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of an asthma education program on asthma general knowledge and HRQOL in Taiwanese patients with asthma during a 6-month follow-up period. METHODS: One hundred eighteen patients were recruited using purposive sampling, 42 of whom were enrolled in an asthma education program and 76 of whom received routine care. Measurements were completed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after enrollment. Over the 6 months of follow-up, asthma knowledge was measured using the Chinese language version of the asthma general knowledge questionnaire for adults, whereas HRQOL was measured using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: Asthma knowledge increased significantly in the intervention group as compared with the comparison group (p < .001), and Group x Month interaction effects were found. Total SGRQ mean score and the three subscales showed no significant differences between intervention and comparison groups. However, overall SGRQ trends and subscale scores for both groups decreased significantly through the first, third, and sixth months. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: We observed an increase in asthma general knowledge but no significant improvement in HRQOL using an asthma structured-education program.