Breathing Interventions for Postoperative Breast Surgery Patients

NCT07449273 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025/899
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 126
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of pranayama and pursed-lip breathing exercises on postoperative pain, anxiety, and vital signs in patients undergoing breast surgery. Postoperative pain and anxiety are common problems that can negatively affect recovery, physiological stability, and overall well-being. Non-pharmacological interventions such as breathing exercises may help reduce these adverse outcomes and support recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a pranayama breathing exercise group, a pursed-lip breathing exercise group, or a control group receiving routine postoperative care. Breathing exercises will be performed three times daily for five minutes. Outcomes including pain, anxiety, and vital signs will be measured at baseline (pretest), postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of breathing exercises as supportive nursing interventions in the postoperative care of breast surgery patients.

Conditions

Breast Cancer; Breast Surgery; Postoperative Pain; Anxiety

Keywords

Pranayama; Pursed-lip breathing; Breathing exercises; Non-pharmacological intervention; Postoperative care; Randomized controlled trial; Nursing intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative Pain Level

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-centimeter scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Higher scores represent greater pain intensity. The scale will be administered on postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 2.

  Postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Postoperative Anxiety Level

  postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2.

• Changes in Heart Rate

  postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2.

• Changes in Oxygen Saturation

  Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 2.

• Changes in Blood Pressure

  Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 2.

• Changes in Respiratory Rate

  Postoperative day 1 and postoperative day 2.

Study Arms (3)

Pranayama Breathing Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will perform pranayama breathing exercises (Nadi Shodhana technique) starting at the 4th postoperative hour. The exercises will be performed three times daily for two consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately five minutes, in addition to routine postoperative care.

Behavioral: Pranayama Breathing Exercise

Pursed-Lip Breathing Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will perform pursed-lip breathing exercises starting at the 4th postoperative hour. The exercises will be performed three times daily for two consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately five minutes, in addition to routine postoperative care.

Behavioral: Pursed-Lip Breathing Exercise

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will receive routine postoperative care without any breathing exercise intervention.

Interventions

Pranayama Breathing Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform pranayama breathing exercises (Nadi Shodhana technique) starting at the 4th postoperative hour. The exercise is performed three times daily for two consecutive days. Each session lasts approximately five minutes and is administered in addition to routine postoperative care. The breathing technique involves slow, controlled inhalation and exhalation through alternate nostrils to improve respiratory function and relaxation.

Pranayama Breathing Group

Pursed-Lip Breathing Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform pursed-lip breathing exercises starting at the 4th postoperative hour. The exercise is performed three times daily for two consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately five minutes. Participants inhale slowly through the nose and exhale through pursed lips to prolong exhalation and improve ventilation, in addition to routine postoperative care.

Pursed-Lip Breathing Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Only female participants are eligible for this study, as the research focuses on women undergoing breast surgery.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years and older
• Able to communicate effectively
• Patients undergoing elective surgery for the first time, including radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or simple mastectomy

You may not qualify if:

• Patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery
• Patients who develop any postoperative complications, such as bleeding or anesthesia-related complications
• Individuals with cognitive or mental impairments
• Patients who wish to withdraw from the study at any stage
• Patients with hearing or speech impairments
• Patients with a psychiatric diagnosis or those using psychiatric medications
• Patients unable to comply with breathing exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ondokuz Mayıs University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms; Pain, Postoperative; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Özge İşeri, Assistant Professor

  Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Samsun, Türkiye

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Gonca AKBAŞ, MSc

CONTACT

5312716024; akbasgonca0@gmail.com

Özge İşeri, Assistant Professor

CONTACT

5433997496; ozgepekiniseri@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Blinding was not feasible due to the nature of the breathing exercise interventions.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Surgical Nursing

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to three parallel groups: a pranayama breathing exercise group, a pursed-lip breathing exercise group, and a control group receiving routine postoperative care.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2026
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 27, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 27, 2027
• Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05