The Effects of Pursed Lip Breathing Exercises on Patients' Post-Bronchoscopy Recovery Parameters: A Nurse-Led Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Pursed-lip breathing (PLB) exercises are used as a nursing intervention among post-bronchoscopy patients. However, there is limited evidence of their effectiveness in improving post-bronchoscopy recovery status. This study investigated the effect of the PLB exercise program on patients' post-bronchoscopy recovery parameters. A nurse-led quasi-experimental research involving study and control groups involving 60 adult participants who were randomly divided into two equal groups. A three-part questionnaire was used for data collection from October 2022 to April 2023. Shapiro–Wilk test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Cochran's test, post hoc test (Dunn's), student's t-test, and Friedman test were employed for data analyses. There were significant improvements in temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, chest pain, and peak expiratory flow in the study group, with statistically significant difference after 30 min. PLB exercises enhanced the clinical outcomes of the study group participants compared to the control group in improving respiratory and cardiac status post-bronchoscopy. Nursing service units may conduct in-service training programs for nursing staff about applying PLB techniques and endorse this as a part of routine care to improve patients' clinical outcomes post-bronchoscopy.