Respiratory Regulation With Biofeedback in COPD

Dyspnea is the main reason that patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) to sedentary. It's a vicious circle of deteriorating lung function. The heart rate various(HRV)biofeedback with respiratory regulation training had been reported to reduce dyspnea and improve regulatory physical activities in COPD. However, HRV is not available with patients in communities persistently, the arm of this study is to explore the effect of the pulse oximeter biofeedback with respiratory regulation training to improve physical activities in COPD. A 2-group, randomized design study, the subjects are GOLD stage II-IV COPD from a medical center hospital of the middle of Taiwan. The experiment cases will be taught the skills of evaluating oximeter data and performing correct pursed-lip with diaphragmatic breathing. All experiment and controlled patients have to fill out the demographic form, the modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), the international physical Activity questionnaire- short form(IPAQ-SF), exercise self-regulation efficacy scale (Ex-SRES), COPD assessment test (CAT), and physical activity \& respiratory training diary in pre-intervention and 12 weeks later. The collective data will analyze with SPSS 22.0.

Before subjects begin participation in any study-specific procedures, the investigators get institutional review board approval of the protocol, informed consent form, questionnaires and all subject information. A subject is considered enrolled when the investigator decides that the subject has met all eligibility criteria. All subjects must personally sign and date the IRB approved ICF before commencement of study-specific procedures. Each subject who enters the screening period for the study will receive a unique subject identification number before any study-related activities are performed. This number will be used to identify the subject throughout the study. 116 subjects will spend 20\~30 minutes to fill out based demographic forms, mMRC, CAT, IPAQ, Ex-SRES and simple emotion questionnaires, then be randomized by sealed envelope to 1 of 2 arms. Under routine care, the experiment arm will get educational leaflets to pursed-lip with diaphragmatic breathing training and oximetry level evaluation. The controlled arm also has education leaflets but without breathing and oximetry level evaluation training. They be required to record respiratory regulation and physical activity diary while home care period up to first following out-patient department (about 12 weeks later). In the home care period, there are three times phone monitors to remind keep recording diary at first, forth and eighth week. Finally, mMRC, CAT, IPAQ and Ex-SRES will be finished again when first follow visit.