Uçar, ÖzgeÇelik, SevimUzun, SunaKarahan, ElifAltıntaş, Sibel2026-06-052026-06-052026-03European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine T. 24, z. 1 (2026), s. 47–552544-1361https://repozytorium.ur.edu.pl/handle/item/12505The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bartın University Ethical Committee (2021-SBB-0329).Introduction and aim. COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, often resulting in pneumonia and dyspnea that may persist after recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of deep breathing and coughing exercises using a Triflow device on respiratory parameters in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Material and methods. This single-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted with 326 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=163) or a control group (n=163). The experimental group performed exercises for 10 consecutive days. The control group received routine hospital care, which included routine nurse-led monitoring of vital signs, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) assessment, medical treatment per clinical guidelines, and supportive care, but no structured breathing-exercise education. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, chi-square, and post hoc tests. Results. After 10 days of intervention, Dyspnea-12 scores decreased more markedly in the experimental group than in the control group (mean change −15 vs. −8 points; p<0.001). Arterial oxygen and SpO₂ levels also improved significantly in the experimental group compared to controls (p<0.001), while respiratory rate decreased to a greater extent (p<0.001). No adverse effects were observed. Conclusion. Deep breathing and coughing exercises with the Trilow device significantly reduced the severity of dyspnea and improved oxygenation in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. These findings suggest that incorporating structured respiratory exercises into standard care may enhance clinical outcomes and support recovery in this population.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/cough exerciseCOVID-19deep breathingnursing carepneumoniaTriflowarticle10.15584/ejcem.2026.1.12