Abstract

In the absence of sufficient research, pulmonary rehabilitation programs have instituted harmonica playing with their Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if playing the harmonica was an effective tool for pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients. This was a quasi-experimental study. A convenience sample of 23 patients with COPD was determined by a power analysis. Exclusion criterion was non-English speaking, pulmonary patients with restrictive disease or Pulmonary Hypertension and any patient <40 years old. IRB approval was obtained. Signed written informed consent was obtained prior to any data collection. Subjects were randomized to either control (non-harmonica playing) or experiment (harmonica playing) groups. Subjects in the experimental group had standard pulmonary rehabilitation then played the harmonica for 10 minutes after pulmonary rehabilitation class. Demographics, O2 saturations and other variables where recorded. Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index was used prior to and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients mean age was 71.43 (sd 8.37) and primarily male (55.0%). Mean FEV was 1.36 (sd .49). Mean difference in overall O2 saturations between groups before & after pulmonary rehab was not significant. Mean O2 saturations before harmonica playing was 94.31 (sd 1.45) and 94.26 (sd 1.59) after, with a difference of .05. Mean difference in O2 saturations before and after harmonica playing was not significant (t=2.31, p=.82). Overall QOL in the harmonica group increased 2.06 points and health and functioning increased 3.21 points after pulmonary rehab. The control group experienced clinically significant increases (p<.05) in overall QOL (3.05 points), health and functioning (4.38 points) and family (2.92 points) after pulmonary rehab. There were clinically relevant improvements (>2 points) in overall QOL (p<.05) and health and functioning (p<.01) before and after harmonica playing. Harmonicas are an inexpensive tool that can be offered to patients to improve their QOL.

Description

41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.

Author Details

Sharon S. Miller, RN, BSN, CCRN

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Quality of Life, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Conference Name

41st Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Grapevine, Texas, USA

Conference Year

2011

Rights Holder

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Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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A comparison of COPD patients' quality of life using the harmonica as a means of pulmonary rehabilitation

Grapevine, Texas, USA

In the absence of sufficient research, pulmonary rehabilitation programs have instituted harmonica playing with their Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if playing the harmonica was an effective tool for pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients. This was a quasi-experimental study. A convenience sample of 23 patients with COPD was determined by a power analysis. Exclusion criterion was non-English speaking, pulmonary patients with restrictive disease or Pulmonary Hypertension and any patient <40 years old. IRB approval was obtained. Signed written informed consent was obtained prior to any data collection. Subjects were randomized to either control>(non-harmonica playing) or experiment (harmonica playing) groups. Subjects in the experimental group had standard pulmonary rehabilitation then played the harmonica for 10 minutes after pulmonary rehabilitation class. Demographics, O2 saturations and other variables where recorded. Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index was used prior to and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients mean age was 71.43 (sd 8.37) and primarily male (55.0%). Mean FEV was 1.36 (sd .49). Mean difference in overall O2 saturations between groups before & after pulmonary rehab was not significant. Mean O2 saturations before harmonica playing was 94.31 (sd 1.45) and 94.26 (sd 1.59) after, with a difference of .05. Mean difference in O2 saturations before and after harmonica playing was not significant (t=2.31, p=.82). Overall QOL in the harmonica group increased 2.06 points and health and functioning increased 3.21 points after pulmonary rehab. The control group experienced clinically significant increases (p<.05) in overall QOL (3.05 points), health and functioning (4.38 points) and family (2.92 points) after pulmonary rehab. There were clinically relevant improvements (>2 points) in overall QOL (p<.05) and health and functioning (p<.01) before and after harmonica playing. Harmonicas are an inexpensive tool that can be offered to patients to improve their QOL.