The Effect of Self-care Emphasizing on Balloon-Blowing Exercise Program on Severity of Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Muscle Strength Among School Age Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Effect of Self-care Emphasizing on Balloon-Blowing Exercise Program on Severity of Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Muscle Strength Among School Age Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in school-age children, often leading to sleep disturbances and associated health issues. Non-invasive interventions, such as respiratory muscle training, have shown promise in mitigating the severity of OSA. This study explores the effects of a self-care-focused balloon-blowing exercise program on improving respiratory muscle strength and reducing OSA severity in children.

This research aimed to study the effects of a self-care emphasizing on balloon-blowing exercises program on severity of sleep apnea and respiratory muscle strength in school-aged children diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), receiving treatment at the outpatient ENT department at Siriraj Hospital.

Thirty children participated, divided into two groups: 15 children received the self-care emphasizing on balloon-blowing exercises program for five weeks based on Orem's self-care theory (2001), and 15 children received regular nursing care. The research instruments included a severity assessment scale for apnea and a self-care behavior assessment scale for children with OSA. Both instruments had content validity indexes of 0.95 and 0.80, and their reliability, Cronbach's alpha, were 0.83 and 0.76, respectively. Respiratory muscle strength was measured using a Respiratory Pressure Meter. Data were analyzed using statistical t-tests.

Inclusion Criteria:

• School-age children aged 6-12 years diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) of mild to moderate severity (AHI 1-9 events/hour).
• Children receiving a consistent medication dosage with no planned adjustments to increase the dosage.
• Fully conscious, with no hearing problems, and able to understand the Thai language.
• Children voluntarily agree to participate in the study, and their parents consent to provide care during the research period.
• Have a smartphone or tablet capable of using the LINE application, with the ability to operate the application under parental supervision.
• Agree to allow the researcher to communicate via LINE and phone calls.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with severe comorbidities or chronic illnesses requiring ongoing treatment.
• Children undergoing treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
• Children who have engaged in exercise sessions lasting more than 20 minutes per session, at least 3 times per week, within the 6 months prior to the start of data collection.