Learning Objective #1: Know about Modified Abdominal Breathing (MAB) training followed by Tai-Chi-Qui-Gong (TCQG) exercise were effective in improving pulmonary function, activity capacity

Learning Objective #2: Understand MAB by TCQG improved quality of life of the patients after lobectomy

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The study adopted a quasi-experimental design, and the reliability and validity-tested instruments were as follows: Chestgraph Hi-101 Computer Lung Machine, Six-Minute Walk Distance(6MWD) and Short Form 36 questionnaire about quality of life (QOL). From Jan. 1 to May 1, 2003, subjects admitted at a chest surgical ward of a medical center in Taipei were included voluntarily after signing informed consents. The first 20 subjects were assigned to the control group(CG), and the next 20 were assigned to the experimental group(EG). Subjects in the EG received a class on MAB by 10 motions of TCQG two days before surgery. They began to practice TCQG twice / day from the first postoperative day. They started with three motions on the first day, increasing to 10 motions on the fifth day. The CG received standard post-lobectomy cares which did not include TCQG . All subjects received measures on pulmonary function (PF) and 6MWD two days prior to the operation, and at one week, and at one month after the operation. QOL was measured two days before the operation and one month after it. The major statistical procedures applied in data management included: Chi-square, two-way ANOVA, independent-T test, and repeated-measures ANOVA. The p value level of <.05 was used as the significant level. The results indicated : subjects in the EG had significant improvement in their tidal volume and 6MWD after lobectomy, while subjects in the CG did not. The 6MWD of the subjects in the EG reverted to the preoperative status at the end of the first week, and was even better one month after. The postoperative QOL of the subjects in the EG was significantly better than that of those in the CG. The findings indicated that MAB by TCQG were effective in improving PF , activity capacity, and QOL of the patients after lobectomy.