Effects of Simulated Laughter Therapy Using a Breathing Exercise: A Study on Hospitalized Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Kwang-Sim Jang, Jeong-Eun Oh and Gyeong-Suk Jeon ()
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Kwang-Sim Jang: Jeon-Nam-Seobu Workers Health Center, Youngam-gun 58454, Korea
Jeong-Eun Oh: Mokpo National Hospital, Mokpo 58605, Korea
Gyeong-Suk Jeon: Department of Nursing, Division of Natural Science, Mokpo National University, Muan-gun 58534, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of simulated laughter therapy on physical symptoms, pulmonary function, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. This quasi-experimental study assigned tuberculosis patients of hospital A to a laughter group ( n = 26) and those of hospital B to a control group ( n = 26). The eight-week laughter therapy, held twice a week in a 60-min group session, included laughter, entertainment, music-related chorusing, breathing exercises, and meditation. The values of physical symptoms, pulmonary function, depression, and HRQOL from before and after the therapy were analyzed using the paired t -test and the Mann–Whitney U-test. To verify group differences between the experiment and control group, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were employed. Unlike the control group, laughter therapy decreased physical symptoms (t = 7.30, p < 0.01) and increased pulmonary function (t = −3.77, p < 0.01). Psychological health also improved, including depression (t = 10.46, p < 0.01) and HRQOL (t = −9.31, p < 0.01) in the experimental group but not in the control group. Group differences of changes in physical symptoms, pulmonary function, depression, and HRQOL were also significant. Simulated laughter therapy can help moderate depression and physical symptoms and enhance pulmonary function among tuberculosis patients.

Keywords: simulated laughter therapy; tuberculosis; pulmonary function; depression; health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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