Breathing Exercise and Tele-Nursing Support for Patients With Tuberculosis: A Single-Group Experimental Study

Overview

This study was conducted as a single-group, pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The sample consisted of 54 tuberculosis patients registered at a Tuberculosis Dispensary who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. Data collection tools included the Patient Identification Form, Dyspnea-12 TR Scale, Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale (MILQ), London Chest Activities of Daily Living Scale (LCADL), Tele-Nursing Follow-up Form, and Tele-Nursing Evaluation Form. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-test, and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test were used for data analysis. The intervention group received structured respiratory exercises training, including abdominal breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and effective coughing, through educational materials (booklet and videos) developed by the researcher. Patients were regularly monitored for 12 weeks via phone calls and video conferencing. Baseline assessments were conducted using data collection tools at the first visit, and post-intervention assessments were performed at the end of week 12 to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

This study implemented a structured respiratory exercise intervention supported by tele-nursing to assess its impact on dyspnea severity and quality of life among patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. The intervention included abdominal breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and effective coughing techniques delivered through a combination of printed educational booklets and instructional videos. These materials were specifically developed for the study and validated by expert healthcare professionals to ensure content accuracy and cultural appropriateness. Patients were monitored remotely over a 12-week period with scheduled weekly follow-up sessions conducted via telephone and video calls. These sessions facilitated reinforcement of the respiratory exercises, addressed patient inquiries, and enabled continuous assessment of adherence and response to the intervention. Data collection instruments, including validated Turkish versions of the Dyspnea-12 scale, the Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale (MILQ), and the London Chest Activities of Daily Living Scale (LCADL), were employed to quantitatively measure changes in respiratory symptoms, functional capacity, and overall quality of life. Comprehensive data management protocols were followed to ensure confidentiality and data integrity throughout the study period. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests based on data distribution, including paired-sample t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, to evaluate the pre- and post-intervention effects. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board, and all participants provided informed consent prior to inclusion. This research contributes valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of telehealth-supported respiratory therapy interventions in tuberculosis care, highlighting the potential of patient-centered, remotely delivered nursing practices to enhance treatment outcomes.