Effects of Relaxation, Mindfulness, and Breathing Therapy on Alarm Fatigue and Psychological Well-being in Intensive Care Nurses

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of the Benson Relaxation Technique, mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation, and breathing therapy on reducing alarm fatigue and improving psychological well-being in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do the Benson Relaxation Technique, mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation, and breathing therapy significantly reduce alarm fatigue in ICU nurses?

Do these interventions significantly improve psychological well-being in ICU nurses?

Researchers will compare three intervention groups (Benson Relaxation Technique, mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation, breathing therapy) with a control group receiving no intervention to determine which approach produces the greatest improvement in alarm fatigue and psychological well-being.

Participants will:

Attend weekly group sessions for their assigned intervention over the course of \[8 weeks\].

Practice the assigned technique regularly between sessions as instructed.

Complete questionnaires assessing alarm fatigue and psychological well-being before and after the intervention.

Conditions

• Alarm Fatigue in Intensive Care Unit Nurses
• Psychological Well-Being in Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Benson Relaxation Technique

The Benson Relaxation Technique is a structured relaxation method involving the repetition of a word, sound, or phrase while sitting quietly in a comfortable position with eyes closed, combined with passive muscle relaxation. In this study, it will be delivered in weekly 30-minute group sessions for 8 weeks by a trained instructor. Participants will be instructed to practice the technique daily at home for 10-15 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Meditation

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction meditation is a practice focusing on cultivating awareness of the present moment through seated meditation and mindful breathing. In this study, participants will attend weekly 30-minute group sessions for 8 weeks, guided by an experienced instructor. They will also be encouraged to perform daily mindfulness meditation at home for 10-15 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Breathing Therapy

Breathing therapy consists of guided breathing exercises designed to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve psychological well-being by regulating breathing patterns. In this study, participants will attend weekly 30-minute group sessions for 8 weeks, led by a trained facilitator. Daily home practice of slow deep breathing techniques for 10-15 minutes will be encouraged.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

  collaborator OTHER

• Hacettepe University Hospital

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Hacer Eroglu

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Zehra Gok Metin, PhD, RN · Hacettepe University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-07-28

Primary Completion

2025-09-15

Completion

2026-01-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations