Effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on lung function and psychological state of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Symptoms caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as dyspnea, cough, chest tightness, and limited physical activity, can easily lead to anxiety and depression in patients. Comprehensive nursing interventions, including nutritional guidance, pulmonary rehabilitation training, psychological intervention, and sleep care, are beneficial for improving pulmonary function and psychological state.

AIM

To explore the effect of comprehensive intervention on the pulmonary function and psychological state of patients with COPD.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with COPD who visited the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Suzhou Ninth People’s Hospital (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China). A total of 77 patients with COPD who received comprehensive nursing intervention from April to December 2023 were selected to form the observation group. According to the principle of matching (1:1) control study, 77 patients with COPD who received routine nursing intervention from April to December 2022 were selected to compose the control group. The 6-minute walking distance (6-MWD), pulmonary function indexes [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) value, FEV₁/FVC ratio], sleep status [assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], psychological status [assessed by Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS)] and quality of life [assessed by St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)] were compared between the two groups before and after the nursing intervention cycle (i.e., continuous intervention for 2 months).

RESULTS

The were no statistically significant differences in 6-MWD, FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC ratio, as well as PSQI, SAS, SDS, and SGRQ scores between the observation and control groups prior to nursing intervention (P > 0.05). However, at the end of the nursing intervention cycle, a follow-up examination revealed that 6-MWD of the observation group was longer than that of the control group (261.21 ± 27.76 months vs 234.85 ± 24.87 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Moreover, the pulmonary function indicators (FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC) of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the scores of each dimension and total score of PSQI, SAS score, SDS score, and the scores of each dimension of SGRQ in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In patients with COPD, comprehensive nursing intervention can effectively enhance exercise endurance, improve lung function and sleep quality, alleviate anxiety and depression, and ameliorate quality of life.

Keywords: Lung diseases; Chronic obstructive; Nursing; Pulmonary function; Anxiety; Depression

Core Tip: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often experience anxiety and depression due to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, and chest tightness. This study focused on the comprehensive nursing intervention including nutritional guidance, lung rehabilitation training, and psychological and sleep care for patients. The results showed that the intervention can effectively improve lung function, while also playing a positive role in alleviating anxiety and depression.