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Learning Objective 1: explain the impact of playing the harmonica on the quality of life for COPD patients.
Learning Objective 2: describe the results of a quasi-experimental study using the harmonica as an inexpensive means of pulmonary toileting in COPD patients.
The purpose of this study was to determine if playing the harmonica was an effective tool for pulmonary toileting in COPD patients.
This was a quasi-experimental study.
A convenience sample of 23 patients with COPD was determined by a power analysis. Exclusion criterion was non-English speaking, pulmonary patients with restrictive disease or Pulmonary Hypertension and any patient <40 years old.
IRB approval was obtained. Signed written informed consent was obtained prior to any data collection. Subjects were randomized to either control (non-harmonica playing) or experiment (harmonica playing) groups. Subjects in the experimental group had standard pulmonary rehabilitation then played the harmonica for 10 minutes after pulmonary rehabilitation class. Demographics, O2 saturations and other variables where recorded. Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index was used prior to and after pulmonary rehabilitation.
Patients mean age was 71.43 (sd 8.37) and primarily male (55.0%). Mean FEV was 1.36 (sd .49). Mean difference in overall O2 saturations between groups before & after pulmonary rehab was not significant. Mean O2 saturations before harmonica playing was 94.31 (sd 1.45) and 94.26 (sd 1.59) after, with a difference of .05. Mean difference in O2 saturations before and after harmonica playing was not significant (t=2.31, p=.82). Overall QOL in the harmonica group increased 2.06 points and health and functioning increased 3.21 points after pulmonary rehab. The control group experienced clinically significant increases (p<.05) in overall QOL (3.05 points), health and functioning (4.38 points) and family (2.92 points) after pulmonary rehab. There were clinically relevant improvements (>2 points) in overall QOL (p<.05) and health and functioning (p<.01) before and after harmonica playing.
Harmonicas are an inexpensive tool that can be offered to patients to improve their QOL.
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