To examine the perceived feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of regular singing for people with COPD. DesignQualitative element within a pre-test, post-test feasibility study. MethodsWritten comments collected at baseline, mid-point and end-point from participants engaged in a 36 week singing programme. FindingsParticipants 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. ConclusionsFindings 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.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health issue. The prevalence of diagnosis in England in 2014-2015 was 1.82%, which equates to over one million people. 1 This places a considerable burden on the healthcare system as well as on the individuals living with the disease. 2 COPD is a common, preventable disease characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. 3 The most common symptoms include breathlessness and cough with sputum. The most common causes are smoking, air pollution and other environmental exposures.While COPD is progressive and not fully reversible, it can be managed. Recommended treatment includes bronchodilator therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), which can improve exercise capacity, dyspnoea and psychological wellbeing. 4 In addition, the British Thoracic Society recommends that exercise should be sustained by patients graduating from PR programmes and that adjunct interventions should be introduced in order to maintain benefits gained. 5 One intervention, which has recently gained attention as a possible addition to medical management of long-term conditions, is participative singing. For example, studies have reported clinically significant improvements for mental health service users and better engagement and wellbeing for people living with

Singing for Health: do members of a generic singing for health group experience similar effects on health and wellbeing as those in condition-specific groups?

Continuing professional development (CPD) for practice nurses is essential. In this article, a programme of bespoke CPD is discussed and evaluated