Development of a pneumonia prevention program for community-dwelling older people through conversation and abdominal breathing

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: The University of Shiga Prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Noriko 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 教授 (40624664)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松井 宏樹 滋賀県立大学, 人間看護学部, 講師 (50822326)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 肺炎予防 / セルフケア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Purpose of this study was to prevent pneumonia in community dwelling older people. We collected data using questionnaire and saliva when before and after abdominal breathing. We analyzed questionnaire, 86.2% of 500 older people did hand washing , 54.2% did gargle when come home.
Twelve older people participated collect saliva before and after abdominal breathing to evaluate the immune function. In a comparison of salivary immune function before and after a certain period of abdominal breathing, which after abdominal breathing higher than before abdominal breathing. The study suggests that abdominal breathing for a certain period of time may have an effect on immune function.

Free Research Field

高齢者看護学　地域看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢に伴い嚥下機能や免疫機能が低下し、恒常性の維持が難しくなること から、高齢者は肺炎に罹患しても症状が出現しにくく重症化しやすい。そこで、日常的に行える肺炎予防のセルフケアの方法として腹式呼吸による効果を検討した。唾液によ免疫機能の評価（secretoty immunoglobulin A）では、一定時間の実施後の効果が期待された。さらに精査が必要であるが、簡便な方法による肺炎予防のためのセルフケアはあらゆる健康状態の高齢者の健康に寄与すると考えられる。