Effects of Singing in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the practice of singing for a long period of time on pulmonary function data, quality of life, and dyspnea sensation of patients with COPD in stable clinical conditions. As singing is a type of respiratory training, the study hypothesis is that singing would improve maximal respiratory pressures, dyspnea sensation, and overall quality of life of these patients.

Detailed Description
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Thirty COPD patients in stable clinical conditions are going to be randomized in two groups: the first one is going to have singing classes for six months; the other one is going to have classes of general manual arts for a similar period of time. The patients of both groups are going to perform spirometry, measurements of maximal respiratory pressures and answer the health related quality of life questionnaires SF-36 and Saint George's before the beginning of practice and after 6 months.Both singing and manual arts practices are going to be administered one hour a week by specialized teachers.

Official Title
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Effects of Singing on Dyspnea, Quality of Life and Pulmonary Function Parameters of COPD Patients in Stable Conditions.

Conditions
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Singing practice
* Other: Singing classes
* Other: Hand craft classes


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of COPD according GOLD criteria Stable clinical conditions for the previous two months Exclusion Criteria: Severe comorbidities other than COPD Hypoxemia with partial arterial oxygen pressure lower than 50 mmHg Incapacity to come to the research center in a weekly basis.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1 Singing Group<br>Patients who will receive singing classes | Other: Singing practice<br> <br> Other: Singing classes<br> <br> |
| Other: 2 Control group<br>Patients who will attend hand craft classes | Other: Hand craft classes<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, functional residual capacity, inspiratory capacity, maximal respiratory pressures |  | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General quality of life score: SF-36 questionnaire.Specific quality of life score : Saint George's Questionnaire; Basal dyspnea index |  | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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COPD, Pulmonary function, Respiratory muscle, Dyspnea, Quality of life