Dyspnea Assessment
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Modified Medical Research Council -mMRC: The mMRC used for dyspnea assessment consists of five stages. Stage 0 represents mild dyspnea, and Stage 4 represents severe dyspnea (Bestall et al., 1999).
COPD Assesment Test
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
COPD Assessment Test (CAT): The test consists of eight questions that examine cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, home and outdoor difficulties, sleep, and fatigue parameters. The maximum score is 40. As the score increases, symptoms worsen. The validity and reliability of the Turkish version was conducted by Yorgancıoğlu et al. (Yorgancioglu, 2012).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are taken with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) while the patient is in a seated position. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are taken with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) while the patient is in a seated position. Forced vital capacity (FVC) is measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are taken with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) while the patient is in a seated position. The ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) is measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are made with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) with the patient in a sitting position. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) are measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are made with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) with the patient in a sitting position. Flow rate at 25-75% of forced vital capacity (FEF 25-75%) are measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Pulmonary Function Testing
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Measurements are made with a portable spirometer (Cosmed Pony FX, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) with the patient in a sitting position. Vital capacity (VC) are measured (Miller et al., 2005).
Respiratory Muscle Strength Measurement
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Maximal inspiratory pressure measurements (MIP) will be taken. For the MIP measurement, the participant sits in a chair and, with a nose clip attached, is asked to take a maximum inspiration through the mouth for 1-3 seconds (Neder et al., 1999)..
Respiratory Muscle Strength Measurement
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Maximal expiratory pressure measurements (MEP) will be taken. For the MEP measurement, the participant is asked to take a maximum inspiration and then a maximum expiration for 1-3 seconds. After performing both measurements three times, the best reading is recorded (Neder et al., 1999).
Exercise Capacity Assessment
Baseline and through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
Six-Minute Walk Test - 6MWT: The six-minute walk test is one of the most frequently used field tests in clinical settings due to its practicality and low cost, assessing submaximal functional capacity. The test is conducted in a 30-meter corridor. After being informed about the test, the participant is asked to walk in a marked area in the corridor for six minutes, and the total distance is recorded. It is recommended that it be performed three times at regular intervals throughout the day, and the best distance recorded. The patient may stop and rest at any time and use assistive devices if available. Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, fatigue, and dyspnea are measured before and after the test. In individuals with COPD, a walk of \<350 meters is associated with lower exercise capacity and increased mortality risk (Ceylan, 2014). A 6-minute walk will result in a report calculating the total distance walked in meters.