A Home-based Module to Promote Mindful Breathing Awareness for COPD Patients

A Home-based Intervention to Promote Mindful Breathing Awareness Through Pursed-lip Breathing Training for COPD Patients

The purpose of this study is to develop a mindful breathing module to an already effective and developed home based rehabilitation program for guiding COPD patients in a mindful breathing practice and further palliate breathlessness and anxiety.

A breathing technique called Pursed Lipped Breathing (PLB) has been proven to be beneficial for patients with COPD. PLB can ease shortness of breath and reduce stress and anxiety. This study will develop a mindful PLB module to compliment an already developed home based pulmonary rehabilitation program. In this study, patients will be randomized to either a group that does the home based pulmonary rehabilitation with the mindful breathing module and health coaching or a group that does the home based pulmonary rehabilitation with health coaching without the mindful breathing module. Both groups will do the home based pulmonary rehabilitation for 12 weeks. In addition there are questionnaires and the wearing of an activity monitor when you sign up and at 3 and 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults, age ≥ 40 years old.
• Clinical diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• At least 10 pack years of smoking.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to do mild exercise (orthopedic-neurologic problems or confined to a bed).
• Unable to follow commands (cognitive impairment).
• Have a high likelihood of being lost to follow-up (active alcohol or drug abuse).
• Live in an area that does not have cellular service (Verizon).