The Effect of Pranayama Breathing Exercise on Fatigue in Cancer Patient Caregivers; Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract Aim: This study was conducted with a randomized controlled experimental design to determine the effect of pranayama breathing exercise on fatigue in caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: The study was conducted with 62 caregivers, including the Intervention (n = 31) and Control group (n = 31). Caregivers in the intervention group practiced pranayama breathing exercise for 15 to 20 minutes, once a day, three days a week for four weeks through an online interview with the researcher, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Ethics committee approval, institutional permission and permission from caregivers were obtained before commencing the study. Data were collected a questionnaire, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) and ECOG performance scale. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and two-way repeated measures analysis of variance were utilized to evaluate the data. Findings: It was determined that the mean PFS total score of the intervention group was 6,19±0,91 before the intervention and decreased to 4,49±0,95'e after four weeks (p > 0.05), while the PFS total score of the control group was 5,49±0,69 before the intervention and increased to 5,69±0,68 after the fourth week of the intervention (p > 0.05). Although the decrease in daily fatigue severity of caregivers in the intervention group was statistically significant (p<0.05), no statistically significant difference was detected in the fatigue severity of caregivers in the control group. In addition, it was determined that the PFS score did not differ statistically according to the groups (F=1.746; p=0.191>0.05). Moreover, the group*time interaction was detected to be statistically significant (F=112,750; p<0,001*; ES=0,653). Conclusion: In this study, Pranayama breathing exercise was observed to reduce fatigue levels of cancer patient caregivers. According to this result, the utilization of pranayama breathing exercise can be recommended to reduce fatigue in cancer patient caregivers. ClinicalTrials.gov ID : NCT05988320 Date: 08/04/2023