THE EFFECT OF PURSED LIPS BREATHING TECHNIQUE ON INCREASING PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE (PEFR) IN MEDIUM CLASSIFICATION OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE PATIENTS

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that attacks the respiratory system caused by inflammation and pollutants that are sucked in the respiratory tract which will cause bronchial stiffness resulting in dyspnea or gasping breath. West Java itself has a prevalence of 3% including Ciamis. Dyspnea will reduce the ability of lung physiology which is marked by a decrease of peak expiratory flow rate<150 L which will eventually cause the death. The purpose of this study is to reduce dyspnea in COPD patients seen from the increase ofPEFR. The sample of this study was 25 medium classifications of COPD patients who were given the technique of Purse Lips Breathing 2 times a day in 7 days. The method of this research is one group pre-post test design with a sample of 25 COPD patients. The results of the study were tested by paired T-test where the results showed a P value of 0.00 <0.05, which means that there was a clear and significant increase in PEFR after given the Pursed lips breathing technique. Discussion of increasing PEFR requires consistency of COPD patients so that complementary therapy or even collaboration can be used to reduce dyspnea symptoms. As the conclusion, the increase of PEFR as a sign of reducing dyspnea does not stand alone but requiring a comprehensive examination, it can be used as the first measure of emergency breathing.