Effect of Breathing Exercises Applied to Hemodialysis Patients on Anxiety, Fatigue and Quality of Life

NCT06613048 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: AmasyaU-MZ-673
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Breathing exercises are one of the non-pharmacological methods frequently used in health care in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises on fatigue, anxiety symptoms and quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Conditions

Exercise; Hemodialysis

Keywords

Anxiety; Fatigue; quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Beck Anxiety Inventory

  Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is designed to measure the frequency of anxiety symptoms experienced by an individual. The scale, consisting of 21 items, is a Likert-type assessment scale scored between 0-3. Individuals rate each item by giving a score between 0-3 to determine how uncomfortable they have felt for the symptom in each item "including the day of the application, in the last week". The scale scores between 0-63. The high total score indicates the high level of anxiety experienced by the person. While 13 of the items describe physical symptoms, 3 reveal the cognitive aspects of anxiety. 3 items have a physical quality as well as a cognitive quality. Therefore, the BAI includes physiological, affective and cognitive symptoms of anxiety. The Cronbach Alpha value of the scale was determined as 0.92.

  6 week

• Quality of Life Scale

  Quality of Life Scale (SF-12): SF-12; consists of two dimensions measuring physical (6 statements) and mental/psychological (6 statements) functioning. It includes various Likert-type statements (2-point Likert; yes-no or 5-point Likert; always, often, sometimes, very little, never etc.) regarding general health status, activity limits, depression, energy level etc. High scores indicate high quality of life.

  6 week

• Piper Fatigue Scale

  Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS): PFS consists of 22 questions and subjectively evaluates fatigue perception. It has four sub-dimensions: the behavior/severity sub-dimension, which evaluates the effect and severity of fatigue on daily life activities; the affective sub-dimension, which covers the emotional meaning attributed to fatigue; the sensory sub-dimension, which reflects the mental, physical and emotional symptoms of fatigue; and the cognitive/spiritual sub-dimension, which reflects the degree to which fatigue affects cognitive functions and mood. The total score of the scale varies between 0 and 10. A score of 0 indicates no fatigue, 1-3 indicates mild fatigue, 4-6 indicates moderate fatigue, and 7-10 indicates severe fatigue.

  6 week

Study Arms (2)

Experimental (breathing exercise)

EXPERIMENTAL

The researcher has a certificate in breathing exercises. Those who consent to participate in the study that meets the research criteria will be given training with a prepared training brochure about correct breathing technique, introduction and function of the diaphragm muscle, box breathing technique, diaphragm breathing technique and benefits of correct breathing before the exercise. Box breathing technique will be applied in addition to standard treatment, 3 sets per day (morning, noon and evening) for 6 weeks, 10 repetitions in each set. Diaphragm breathing exercise will be applied in addition to standard treatment, lasting 2 minutes in the first week, then increasing each week and reaching 12 minutes in the 6th week, as 3 sets (morning, noon and evening).

Other: Breathing exercise

Control

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will receive standard care. No intervention will be applied to these patients during the follow-up period, only data collection forms will be applied. Data collection forms will be collected in the same time period as the intervention group.

Interventions

Breathing exercise OTHER

The researcher has a certificate in breathing exercises. Those who consent to participate in the study that meets the research criteria will be given training with a prepared training brochure about correct breathing technique, introduction and function of the diaphragm muscle, box breathing technique, diaphragm breathing technique and benefits of correct breathing before the exercise. Box breathing technique will be applied in addition to standard treatment, 3 sets per day (morning, noon and evening) for 6 weeks, 10 repetitions in each set. Diaphragm breathing exercise will be applied in addition to standard treatment, lasting 2 minutes in the first week, then increasing each week and reaching 12 minutes in the 6th week, as 3 sets (morning, noon and evening).

Experimental (breathing exercise)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being over the age of 18
• Being willing to participate in the study
• Speaking and understanding Turkish
• Having started hemodialysis treatment at least 6 months ago

You may not qualify if:

• Being on hemodialysis treatment with a diagnosis of stage 4 renal failure
• Being on hemodialysis treatment due to acute renal failure
• Having a malignancy related to the respiratory system (bronchus or lung)
• Having chest pain
• Having previously done box breathing and diaphragmatic breathing exercises/receiving training
• Having cognitive dysfunction
• Not giving consent to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Amasya University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Neşe Uysal

Amasya, 0500, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Anxiety Disorders; Fatigue

Interventions

Breathing Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Mental Disorders; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Mahmut Zengin

  Amasya University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2024
• First Posted: September 25, 2024
• Study Start: February 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 26, 2025
• Study Completion: June 23, 2025
• Last Updated: June 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

TU (1)