“Singing for Breathing”: Participants' perceptions of a group singing programme for people with COPD

Background: Chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD) is a long term respiratory condition with a high prevalence rate and associated with considerable physical and psychological morbidity. This research aims to examine the perceptions of people with COPD taking part in regular group singing, in terms of feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness. Methods: The overall approach was a pre-test, post-test feasibility element and a nested qualitative component. Measures of respiratory function and self-reported quality of life were collected from participants engaged in a 36 week singing programme. Written comments from 97 individuals, reported here, were collected at baseline, mid-point and end-point. Data were analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results: Participants noted limitations due to their respiratory condition but a large number expressed beliefs that singing had led to improvement and this appeared to be incremental over the time of the project. Other comments related to positive effects on physical health more broadly, on psychological wellbeing and on the social support gained through meeting others with COPD. Comments relating to the overall programme and the research itself were overwhelmingly positive. Conclusions: Findings suggest that singing is perceived as both acceptable and beneficial to people with COPD. Evidence from participants served as a useful supplement to the quantitative findings.