Effects of comprehensive nursing intervention combined with respiratory functional exercises on pulmonary function and self-care ability in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: results of a randomized trial

Background This study was carried out based on the background that pulmonary tuberculosis seriously threatens people's physical health while the current treatment has certain limitations. Methods A total of 150 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were admitted to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were selected as study participants. Patients were randomly divided into a control group (n=75) who were treated with routine nursing, and an experimental group (n=75) who were treated with comprehensive nursing intervention combined with respiratory functional exercises. Following treatment, the pulmonary function, self-care ability, and other indexes of the patients in both groups were compared and analyzed. Results After nursing intervention, the pulmonary function and self-care ability of patients in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The scores of the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale of patients in both groups were significantly higher after nursing intervention compared to before intervention. Furthermore, after intervention, the scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and the quality of life of patients in the experimental group after intervention were significantly better than those in the control group. Conclusions Comprehensive nursing intervention combined with respiratory functional exercises can significantly improve the pulmonary function, self-care ability, and quality of life of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, with obvious clinical efficacy. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100048983.