The Effect of Controlled Breathing Exercises on Anxiety and Arterial Oxygen Saturation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction: Anxiety is one of the common symptoms and complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that increases readmission and decreases the quality of life in these patients. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of controlled breathing exercises on Anxiety and Arterial Oxygen Saturation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study with statistical population consisting  of all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospitalized in selected hospitals of Aja in the first half of 2019. The samples were divided into two intervention and control groups. For data collection, Demographic information, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Pulse Oximeter were used. The intervention group received controlled breathing exercises for four days. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23. Results: Mean scores of total anxiety and arterial oxygen saturation were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups before the intervention, but there was a significant difference between  both groups after the intervention, using independent samples t-test (P<0.001). Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that controlled breathing exercises can  can reduce anxiety and improve arterial oxygen saturation level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Thus, it is recommended that they be used by nurses as a nursing intervention.