This study aims to examine the effects of Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) on pulmonary function, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and dyspnea in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A block-randomized crossover trial will be conducted at the pulmonology outpatient clinic of a regional teaching hospital in eastern Taiwan. Participants aged 40-90 years with physician-diagnosed COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC \< 70%) will be randomly allocated into two groups. The total observation period is 16 weeks with 5 data collection time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (Week 4), T2 (Week 8), T3 (Week 12), and T4 (Week 16). Each intervention period lasts 8 weeks. Primary outcomes are dyspnea (mMRC) and COPD symptom burden (CAT). Secondary outcomes include pulmonary function (FEV₁, FVC), sleep quality (PSQI), and depressive symptoms (DASS-21).
1. Diagnosed with COPD by a pulmonologist, with spirometry confirming post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC < 70% within the past 12 months 2. Aged between 40 and 90 years, receiving regular follow-up at the pulmonology outpatient clinic 3. Able to communicate and follow instructions in Mandarin or Taiwanese 4. Willing to participate and comply with home-based pulmonary rehabilitation intervention
1. Active pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumothorax, or malignant respiratory disease 2. Severe cognitive impairment, intellectual disability, or communication disorder preventing instruction comprehension or intervention compliance 3. Currently in acute exacerbation of COPD, or primary diagnosis of bronchial asthma 4. GOLD Stage I COPD (mild, post-bronchodilator FEV₁ ≥ 80% predicted)
Crossover
ACBT+OPEP
BehavioralParticipants undergo an 8-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program combining ACBT with O-PEP therapy. At baseline (Week 0), each participant receives individual face-to-face instruction covering the three ACBT phases - Breathing Control (BC), Thoracic Expansion Exercises (TEE), and Forced Expiration Technique (FET) - and correct use of the tube-valve O-PEP device. Competency is verified by return demonstration. A practice manual, self-monitoring diary, and instructional videos are provided. Each session follows the sequence: BC → TEE ×3 → FET, immediately followed by 10-15 O-PEP exhalations, then FET, coughing, and expectoration. Sessions are performed twice daily (≥8 hours apart), 30-60 minutes per session, for 8 weeks. Biweekly remote monitoring is conducted via LINE. Upon completion, the O-PEP device is retrieved to prevent carryover contamination.
Usual Care (Standard Medical Care)
BehavioralParticipants receive standard outpatient medical care only, consisting of routine pulmonology follow-up, prescribed pharmacological management (bronchodilators and/or inhaled corticosteroids as clinically indicated), and standard respiratory health education including disease self-management, smoking cessation, pursed-lip breathing, and diaphragmatic breathing. No ACBT training, O-PEP device, or individualized airway clearance instruction is provided during this period.
Dyspnea - mMRC, COPD Symptoms - CAT
Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale; 5-grade scale (Grade 0-4); higher score = more severe dyspnea; ICC = 0.83-0.91, COPD Assessment Test; 8-item scale scored 0-40; higher score = worse health status; ICC = 0.80-0.96
Pulmonary function - FEV₁ Pulmonary function - FVC, Pulmonary function - FEV₁/FVC ratio
1. Pulmonary Function - FEV₁ Measure: Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁) Description: Post-bronchodilator FEV₁ (L and % predicted) measured via standardized spirometry following inhalation of Berotec N MDI 100 mcg × 4 doses (total 400 mcg), with re-measurement at 15 minutes post-inhalation. Conducted at the hospital pulmonary function laboratory. 2. Pulmonary Function - FVC Measure: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Description: Post-bronchodilator FVC (L) measured via standardized spirometry under the same protocol as FEV₁ assessment. 3. Pulmonary Function - FEV₁/FVC Ratio Measure: FEV₁/FVC Ratio (%) Description: Ratio of post-bronchodilator FEV₁ to FVC, used to confirm airflow obstruction severity per GOLD criteria.
Sleep Quality
Sleep Quality Measure: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) - Chinese Version Description: A 19-item self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality over the past month across 7 components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep
Depressive Symptoms
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Chinese Version Description: The Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) is a validated self-report questionnaire consisting of 21 items that assesses three domains: depression, anxiety, and stress (7 items per subscale). Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("Did not apply to me at all") to 3 ("Applied to me very much or most of the time"). Scores for each subscale are summed and multiplied by two to obtain the final score, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. In this study, the depression subscale score will be used to evaluate depressive symptoms.
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