Belly Breathing Effectiveness on Sleep and Life Quality among Patients with Non-Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux

Abstract

: Belly breathing recently has an important role in managing GERD symptoms, improving quality of life, medication adherence and sleep quality. Study purpose: to evaluate the belly breathing effectiveness on sleep and life quality among patients with non-erosive gastro esophageal reflux. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: Medical out-patients’ clinics of Menoufia University hospital and The National Liver Institute outpatient’s clinics at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of 100 patients. Instruments : Five instruments: Structured interview questionnaire, Belly breathing exercises performance checklist & self-reported compliance sheet, GERD clinical symptoms severity and frequency assessment, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and GERD Health-Related Quality of Life Scale. Results: GERD symptoms frequencies were reduced from 26.64 pre-intervention to 17.61 & 9.58 respectively post intervention by 2& 4 months. Also antacid consumption among 34 % of patients preintervention was 7 days / week but reduced to 2% and 0 % postintervention by 2 and 4 months respectively. Moreover good sleeper was 24% preintervention then elevated to 62% and 90% postintervention by 2 and 4 months respectively. Regarding, GERD related quality of life, only 1% were satisfied preintervention but post intervention by 2 and 4 months percent reach 32 and 72 respectively. Conclusion: Belly breathing presenting better therapeutic improvements in all patients’ out comes as reduction of GERD symptoms severity and frequencies, little anti acid consumption, better sleep quality and more satisfaction with health-related quality of life. Recommendations: Encourage health care professionals, especially nurses to integrate belly breathing with the treatment protocols of patients with non-erosive GERD.