Effect of Incentive Spirometry on Pulmonary Function Tests in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Clinical Trials

Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the Effect effect of incentive spirometry on pulmonary function tests in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted in on hemodialysis patients. The obtained Data were collected from 26 patients in the experimental and 26 patients in the control group. In The the control group, patients received their routine care and the experimental group intervention for the experimental group was demonstrate the incentive spirometry program. The patients were encouraged to use the device for 5–10 breaths per session, every hour while awake for two months. The Pulmonary pulmonary function tests including FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC evaluated was indicatedwere taken at the beginning, and then 2 months after the starting onset of the study in two both groups.  Results: The findings showed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC before the intervention. The FVC, FEV1 increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05) after two months, while no significant improvement was observed in the FEV1/FVC ratio.  Discussion: This study showed significant differences in pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1) in the two groups. Therefore, incentive spirometry seems to be an effective choice for improvements in pulmonary function test in hemodialysis patients. But considering the limited studies available, further research is required in this area.