Selda Arslan1, Gürsel Öztunç2. 1. Healty Science Faculty, Nursing Department, University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey. 2. Healty Science Faculty, Nursing Department, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a walking exercise program, three times a week for 8 weeks, on fatigue in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: This study was a randomized controlled trial. METHODS:Walking exercise was applied to the intervention group three times a week for 8 weeks; no exercise was applied to the control group. FINDINGS: No difference was seen between the points of pretest fatigue of the intervention and control groups (t = -0.788, p = .434). However, according to the posttest, the intervention group's point of fatigue was lower than the control groups, and this difference was statistically significant (t = -3.924, p = .001). CONCLUSION: It was found that a walking exercise program applied to patients with COPD affected the fatigue symptom positively. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Walking exercises programme can be used by nurses as a reference to monitor chronic obstructive pulmoner disease patients' health status.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a walking exercise program, three times a week for 8 weeks, on fatigue in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: This study was a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Walking exercise was applied to the intervention group three times a week for 8 weeks; no exercise was applied to the control group. FINDINGS: No difference was seen between the points of pretest fatigue of the intervention and control groups (t = -0.788, p = .434). However, according to the posttest, the intervention group's point of fatigue was lower than the control groups, and this difference was statistically significant (t = -3.924, p = .001). CONCLUSION: It was found that a walking exercise program applied to patients with COPD affected the fatigue symptom positively. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Walking exercises programme can be used by nurses as a reference to monitor chronic obstructive pulmoner diseasepatients' health status.