Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is linked to impaired diaphragm function
due to reduced coordination or strength of diaphragmatic contractions. Breathing exercises have
been shown to improve esophageal function and reduce acid reflux, thereby enhancing health
outcomes, symptom control, quality of life, medication adherence, and sleep quality in patients.
Aim: It aimed to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises on health outcomes among patients with
gastro esophageal reflux disease. Study design: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest comparison
study design was implemented to achieve the aim of the current study. Setting: The study was
conducted in gastroenterology out-patient clinics at Benha University Hospital affiliated to
Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of eighty patients with gastro
esophageal reflux disease and selected from the previously mentioned setting over a period of six
months of data collection. Tools: Data were collected using four tools, (I) A structured interview
questionnaire, (II) Patients' knowledge assessment, (III) Patients' practice assessment for breathing
exercises and (IV) Patients' health outcomes assessment. Results: The study showed that there was
statistically significant improvement in the total knowledge and practice levels of the studied
patients post breathing exercises implementation compared with pre exercises implementation.
Also, there were high statistically significant differences between pre and post breathing exercises
implementation concerning patients' health outcomes including clinical symptoms severity and
frequency as well as sleep quality. Conclusion: The study findings indicated that patients’
knowledge and practice significantly improved following the implementation of breathing
exercises, which was accompanied by marked improvements in all health outcomes. These
improvements included a reduction in the severity and frequency of symptoms and enhanced sleep
quality, with highly statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Recommendations: It is
recommended that breathing exercises should be integrated with the treatment protocols of patients
with gastroesophageal reflux disease. |
