The effect of breathing exercises on nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises on nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer. The research was designed as a randomized controlled trial with experimental and control groups and was conducted between November 2024 and March 2025 at the Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit of Ankara Etlik City Hospital Oncology Hospital. The sample consisted of stage 1, 2, and 3 patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer who were about to begin chemotherapy (first course) and were selected according to the defined inclusion criteria. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power 3.1.9.2 program, and a total of 104 patients were included in the study, with 52 patients in each group. The experimental group received breathing exercises before and after chemotherapy for all three courses. Patients were contacted by phone between courses to remind them to perform the breathing exercises and to instruct them to perform the exercises if they experienced anxiety, nausea, or vomiting. The control group received only standard nursing care. When the findings were examined; All Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for the data obtained from the control and experimental group patients after three courses of treatment were found to be above 0.60, and the skewness-kurtosis values were within the ±1.5 range. Therefore, it was determined that the data collected through the Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting, and Gagging Index, VAS Pain Scale, and Beck Anxiety Scale were consistent and reliable, and met the assumption of normal distribution. For this reason, parametric methods were used in the analysis of the study. In conclusion, it was found that breathing exercises are effective in reducing nausea, vomiting, and anxiety levels in patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer and receiving chemotherapy in an outpatient chemotherapy unit.