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NCT Number: NCT07164118

Therapeutic Effects of Pranayama Breathing Technique and Deep Breathing Exercises on Pain and Anxiety After Abdominal Surgery

This study will be conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of pranayama breathing technique and deep breathing exercises on pain and anxiety after abdominal surgery.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Abdominal Surgery Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Afsin State Hospital

Kahramanmaraş, Afşin, 46500, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Abdominal surgeries often present with significant pain and the need for analgesia, and inadequate pain control can lead to delayed wound healing, cognitive impairment, stress, and anxiety. Surgical patients frequently experience anxiety and moderate to severe pain during the perioperative period. Non-pharmacological methods provide significant support to pharmacological treatments during this period. Pranayama and deep breathing exercises stand out as effective methods that promote relaxation and reduce pain perception and anxiety. While the literature supports the positive effects of these techniques, studies on their use after abdominal surgery are limited. This research aims to fill this gap and demonstrate the benefits of non-pharmacological approaches in postoperative care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 18-65,
  • Having undergone elective abdominal surgery,
  • Having no communication difficulties,
  • Having no cognitive problems,
  • Having no psychiatric illness,
  • Having not previously practiced breathing exercises,
  • Agreeing to participate in the study,
  • Having an American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) rating of I, II, or III will be included in the sample group.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients who developed complications such as bleeding, anastomotic leakage, atelectasis, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism in the postoperative period; who wished to withdraw from the study at any stage; or who required intensive care in the postoperative period will not be included in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Pranayama Breathing Exercise

Behavioral

Pranayama breathing technique consisting of 6 cycles, demonstrated by the researcher before the operation, supported by the brochure, and lasting 8-10 minutes every 2 hours from the 4th post-operative hour.

Deep Breathing Exercise

Behavioral

Deep breathing exercise, demonstrated one-on-one before surgery and supported by a guide, applied 6 times every 2 hours from the 4th post-operative hour onwards.

Primary outcomes

  1. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory:

    Time frame: 5 months

    Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: First developed by Spielberger and his colleagues in 1970, it was adapted into Turkish by Öner and Le Compte (1982), and its validity and reliability studies were conducted. This inventory consists of two subsections, each containing 20 items: State Anxiety (STAI-I) and Trait Anxiety (STAI-II). In the state anxiety section, participants select one of the following options: "not at all," "a little," "a lot," or "completely." In the trait anxiety section, participants respond with the following options: "almost never," "sometimes," "most of the time." The total score on the scale ranges from 20 to 80; higher scores indicate higher anxiety levels. In the study conducted by Günaydın and Oflaz (1998), anxiety scores were classified according to their levels and defined as 20-39 as "mild", 40-59 as "moderate", 60-79 as "high" and over 80 points as "panic level anxiety".

  2. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: 5 months

    Visual Analog Scale (VAS) The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was designed in 1983 by Price and colleagues to assess pain intensity. This measurement tool consists of a 10-cm-long straight line with the words "no pain" at one end and "unbearable pain" at the other. The patient is asked to mark a point on the line corresponding to the intensity of the pain they are experiencing; this point is scored in centimeters from the beginning. The score is categorized as no pain for 0, mild for 1-4, moderate for 5-6, severe for 7-8, and extreme pain for 10.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cukurova University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 9, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 9, 2025

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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