Raphokwane K1, Mtshali BF1
1Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Physiotherapy, Pretoria, South Africa
Background: When an HIV positive person develops an opportunistic lung disease, one or more of the following symptoms are often present: fever, chills, chest pains, dry or productive coughs, sputum, dyspnoea, chronic fatigue, night sweats, loss of appetite, headaches and unexplained weight loss. Dyspnoea is considered the primary activity-limiting symptom in patients thus affecting functional performance These symptoms have a direct impact on the activities of daily living of the patient whom is HIV infected. (Breslin, van der Schans, Breukink, Meek, Mercer, Volz and Louie. 2010).
Exercise therapies are focused more on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases patients than on HIV related lung disease patients. The effectiveness of these exercises on patients with HIV related Lung diseases has a gap in research and has not been thoroughly explored. Though studies have been done worldwide none had been done at this particular institution.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an exercise therapy on HIV patient´s activities of daily living.
Methods: A one group pre and post-test design was done at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Tshepang Clinic. This clinic is specifically for patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The tools used were St George´s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and a Six week Australian Lung Foundation Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit (ALFPRT) exercise program. This exercise programme was carried out at the Physiotherapy Departmental Gymnasium.
Using the sample of convenience, 156 patient were recruited, only 90 consented to be participants but only 61 patients completed the programme. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0. The significance level was set at 0.05
Results: The participant's age ranged from 22 to 67 years old and there were more females 60.7% (n=37) Common diagnosis was PTB at 73.8% (n=45). Majority of patients 83% (n=51) showed symptoms of “coughing, producing phlegm and unpleasant chest attacks” at various occasions most days a week pre intervention. This improved post intervention as 41% (n=25) reported to not have had symptoms and 25% (n=15). Thirty percent (30%) of the participants felt breathless when doing daily activities pre intervention which improved post intervention with only 2% feeling the symptoms. House work was reported to take a long time or having to stop for rests in between with fifty nine percent (59%) of the participants, only twenty six percent (26%) remained the same after intervention. Initially fifty four percent (54%) felt uncomfortable playing sport which limited their social integration which improved post intervention with only eleven percent (11%) having no change.
Conclusion(s): The study shows that exercise therapy is effective in improving participation in activities of daily living in patients who have HIV/AIDS related lung diseases
Implications: There needs to be specific exercise programmes for patients with HIV related lung diseases to improve their quality of life from primary health care centres. Randomised studies should be undertaken to strengthen this theory
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Lung diseases,, Exercise Therapy, Activities of Daily living
Funding acknowledgements: SMU Research Development Grant
Exercise therapies are focused more on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases patients than on HIV related lung disease patients. The effectiveness of these exercises on patients with HIV related Lung diseases has a gap in research and has not been thoroughly explored. Though studies have been done worldwide none had been done at this particular institution.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an exercise therapy on HIV patient´s activities of daily living.
Methods: A one group pre and post-test design was done at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Tshepang Clinic. This clinic is specifically for patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The tools used were St George´s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and a Six week Australian Lung Foundation Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit (ALFPRT) exercise program. This exercise programme was carried out at the Physiotherapy Departmental Gymnasium.
Using the sample of convenience, 156 patient were recruited, only 90 consented to be participants but only 61 patients completed the programme. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0. The significance level was set at 0.05
Results: The participant's age ranged from 22 to 67 years old and there were more females 60.7% (n=37) Common diagnosis was PTB at 73.8% (n=45). Majority of patients 83% (n=51) showed symptoms of “coughing, producing phlegm and unpleasant chest attacks” at various occasions most days a week pre intervention. This improved post intervention as 41% (n=25) reported to not have had symptoms and 25% (n=15). Thirty percent (30%) of the participants felt breathless when doing daily activities pre intervention which improved post intervention with only 2% feeling the symptoms. House work was reported to take a long time or having to stop for rests in between with fifty nine percent (59%) of the participants, only twenty six percent (26%) remained the same after intervention. Initially fifty four percent (54%) felt uncomfortable playing sport which limited their social integration which improved post intervention with only eleven percent (11%) having no change.
Conclusion(s): The study shows that exercise therapy is effective in improving participation in activities of daily living in patients who have HIV/AIDS related lung diseases
Implications: There needs to be specific exercise programmes for patients with HIV related lung diseases to improve their quality of life from primary health care centres. Randomised studies should be undertaken to strengthen this theory
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Lung diseases,, Exercise Therapy, Activities of Daily living
Funding acknowledgements: SMU Research Development Grant
Topic: Oncology, HIV & palliative care; Oncology, HIV & palliative care; Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: SMU
Ethics committee: SMUREC
Ethics number: MREC/H/41/2014:PG
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
