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NCT Number: NCT07359365

The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Compassion Fatigue and Work Tress Among Emergency Department Nurses

The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to examine the effect of breathing exercises on compassion fatigue and work stress among emergency department nurses

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Key information

Conditions

Work Stress Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Compassion Fatigue Fatigue Mental Fatigue Occupational Diseases Occupational Stress Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

"This study will be conducted with nurses working in the emergency department. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving breathing exercise training or a control group. Data will be collected using a sociodemographic data form and validated scales measuring work stress and compassion fatigue. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises on work stress and compassion fatigue levels among emergency department nurses."

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Currently employed as an emergency department nurse.
  • No diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
  • No prior participation in breathing exercise programs.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of respiratory system disease.
  • Physical conditions that prevent participation in breathing exercises.
  • Working outside the emergency department.

Treatment and study plan

Breathing Exercise Training

Behavioral

Participants in the experimental group will receive training on proper breathing techniques and breathing exercise methods. Each session will last 30-40 minutes. Sessions will be conducted twice a week for a total of 4 weeks.

Usual Care

Other

No intervention will be applied. Participants in the control group will continue their usual routine.

Primary outcomes

  1. Compassion Fatigue Score

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    The level of compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses will be assessed using the Compassion Fatigue Scale, a Likert-type instrument ranging from 1 ("Never") to 10 ("Very Often"). The scale includes two subdimensions: secondary traumatic stress and occupational burnout. Items C, E, H, K, and L assess secondary traumatic stress, while items A, B, D, F, G, I, and M assess occupational burnout.

    Total scores range from 13 to 130, with higher scores indicating greater levels of compassion fatigue.

  2. Work Stress Score

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after ınvertıon

    Work-related stress among emergency nurses will be measured with the 34-item Nurse Work Stress Scale . The scale has seven subdimensions: uncertainty concerning treatment (items 1-8), workload (items 9-14), patient death (items 15-19), conflict with physicians (items 20-24), conflict with other nurses (items 25-29), inadequate support (items 30-32), and suffering patient (items 33-34). Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale (1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very Often). Subdimension reliability ranges from α=0.65 to α=0.89. Total scores are summed; higher scores indicate higher work-related stress.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Betül Graduate student

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905347442850

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Compassion Fatigue and Work Stress Among Emergency Department Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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