Breathing Exercises for Pain and Anxiety During Arteriovenous Fistula Cannulation

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effects of guided 4-7-8 and diaphragmatic breathing exercises performed during arteriovenous fistula cannulation on pain, anxiety, and comfort levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Hemodialysis patients often experience pain and anxiety during fistula cannulation, which can negatively affect the treatment process and patient comfort.

The study will be conducted as a three-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to the 4-7-8 breathing exercise group, the diaphragmatic breathing exercise group, or the control group receiving usual care. In the intervention groups, breathing exercises will be performed with guidance before and during cannulation.

The study anticipates that breathing exercises will reduce pain and anxiety, increase comfort levels, and contribute as an easily applicable, side-effect-free method to nursing care. The findings are expected to support the use of non-pharmacological interventions in hemodialysis patients.

Conditions

• Hemodialysis
• Arteriovenous Fistula Cannulation
• Breathing Exercises
• Pain
• Anxiety
• Comfort

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Guided 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise

Katılımcılar, rutin hemodiyaliz bakımına ek olarak, arteriyovenöz fistül kanülasyonu öncesinde ve sırasında rehberli 4-7-8 nefes egzersizi yapacaklardır. Bu teknik, 4 saniye boyunca burundan nefes almak, 7 saniye boyunca nefesini tutmak ve 8 saniye boyunca ağızdan yavaşça nefes vermekten oluşur. Egzersiz, her kanülasyon seansı sırasında standart bir protokole göre araştırmacıların rehberliğinde uygulanacaktır.

BEHAVIORAL

Guided Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise

Participants will perform guided diaphragmatic breathing exercises before and during arteriovenous fistula cannulation in addition to routine hemodialysis care. The intervention involves slow and deep breathing with diaphragmatic expansion, emphasizing abdominal movement rather than chest movement. The breathing exercises will be administered under researcher guidance according to a standardized protocol during each cannulation session.

OTHER

routine care

Participants in this group will receive routine nursing care during arteriovenous fistula cannulation according to standard clinical practice. No breathing exercise or additional intervention will be applied.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mersin University

  collaborator OTHER

• Emine Kaplan Serin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Emine KAPLAN SERİN, Associate Professor · Mersin University, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Mersin/ Türkiye.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-10

Primary Completion

2026-04-01

Completion

2026-04-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations