KarunaNews Story

A recent study has shown that online group singing can significantly improve the quality of life for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease, which often cause chronic breathlessness. Led by Professor Natasha Smallwood, a respiratory specialist at The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, the randomized controlled trial included 101 participants, with 64 diagnosed with COPD and 37 with ILD. Half the group joined a 12-week online singing program, while the others received standard care. Each week, the singing group logged onto 90-minute Zoom sessions run by a registered music therapist. Participants also received recordings to practice at home. On average, the singing group scored 7.4 points higher on the SF-36 questionnaire, which measures health-related quality of life across multiple domains. The improvements were particularly notable among participants who attended at least eight of the 12 sessions. Researchers found notable improvements among women, people with anxiety or depression, and those who hadn’t previously completed a pulmonary rehab program.