Trial reportBMC pulmonary medicine2010
Singing teaching as a therapy for chronic respiratory disease--a randomised controlled trial and qualitative evaluation.
Trial report in BMC pulmonary medicine, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 56 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
More Singing, Less Swinging - Is Singing Related to Improved Postural Control?
Effects and Mechanisms of Online Delivered Singing Training vs Usual Care in Patients With Persistent Symptoms 6-18 Months After Surgical Resection for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) - a Multi-centre RCT
Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 149 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA network open · 2022Pooled it
- Effect of Singing on Symptoms in Stable COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2022Pooled it
- A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long-term health conditions.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2020Pooled it
- Singing for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Singing for Lung Health-a systematic review of the literature and consensus statement.NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Self-management of health care behaviors for COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2016Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The SINFONIA Study: A Randomised Controlled Trial to Determine Feasibility and Effectiveness of Online Group Singing for People With COPD or ILD and Breathlessness.Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) · 2026Trial
- Singing for lung health following completion of pulmonary rehabilitation: feasibility of a randomised controlled trial.BMJ open respiratory research · 2026Trial
- Singing as training modality within pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD patients may enhance diaphragmatic function: a pilot RCT exploring impact on diaphragmatic mobility and thickness.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Trial
- Singing for lung health in COPD: a multicentre randomised controlled trial of online delivery.BMJ open respiratory research · 2024Trial
- Use of Singing for Lung Health as an alternative training modality within pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD: a randomised controlled trial.The European respiratory journal · 2022Trial
- Effects of core-postural stabilisation on fluoroscopy diaphragmatic measurement and dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized single-blinded clinical trial.Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine · 2021Trial
- Moving singing for lung health online in response to COVID-19: experience from a randomised controlled trial.BMJ open respiratory research · 2020Trial
- Group singing improves depression and life quality in patients with stable COPD: a randomized community-based trial in China.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2019Trial
- Singing classes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2012Trial
- The Fontan Choir: Singing for Single Ventricle Health and Wellbeing Feasibility Study.Pediatric cardiology · 2026Article
- Effects of different exercises on psychological anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of thoracic disease · 2026Article
- Sing-a-Lung 2.0: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects and mechanisms of online-delivered singing training versus usual care 6-18 months after surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).BMJ open respiratory research · 2026Article
- Singing for adults with chronic respiratory disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite optimal pharmacological therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation, patients with COPD continue to be breathless. There is a need to develop additional strategies to alleviate symptoms. Learning to sing requires control of breathing and posture and might have benefits that translate into daily life.
methodsTo test this hypothesis we performed a randomised controlled trial, comparing a six week course of twice weekly singing classes to usual care, in 28 COPD patients. The experience of singing was assessed in a qualitative fashion, through interviews with a psychologist. In addition, we surveyed patients with chronic respiratory conditions who participated in a series of open singing workshops.
resultsIn the RCT, the physical component score of the SF36 improved in the singers (n = 15) compared to the controls (n = 13); +7.5(14.6) vs. -3.8(8.4) p = 0.02. Singers also had a significant fall in HAD anxiety score; -1.1(2.7) vs. +0.8(1.7) p = 0.03. Singing did not improve single breath counting, breath hold time or shuttle walk distance. In the qualitative element, 8 patients from the singing group were interviewed. Positive effects on physical sensation, general well-being, community/social support and achievement/efficacy emerged as common themes. 150 participants in open workshops completed a questionnaire. 96% rated the workshops as "very enjoyable" and 98% thought the workshop had taught them something about breathing in a different way. 81% of attendees felt a "marked physical difference" after the workshop.
conclusionSinging classes can improve quality of life measures and anxiety and are viewed as a very positive experience by patients with respiratory disease; no adverse consequences of participation were observed.
trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials--ISRCTN17544114.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.