The effect of breathing exercise on fatigue and sleep quality applied with twi different methods among women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy: Randomized controlled study

This research was conducted as prospective randomized controlled study to assess the effect of breathing exercise on fatigue and sleep quality applied in two different methods in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The research was carried out in the radiation oncology unit of a private hospital, with pranayama, deep breathing exercise and control group (20 patients in each group) on a total of 60 patients. Data Collection Form, Fatigue VAS, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Insomnia VAS and PSQI scales were used to collect data. The severity of fatigue and insomnia in patients was assessed weekly (6 times in total), while PFS and PSQI scales were evaluated twice before radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, min-max were used as descriptive results. ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon and Chi Square Test were used for data analyses. As a result of the study, it was found that fatigue increased significantly in the control group in the fourth week compared to the deep breath exercise group and in the fifth week in the control group before the treatment (p <0.05). It was determined that insomnia severity decreased in the pranayama and deep breath exercise groups in the third week of radiotherapy and in the pranayama group in the fourth week compared to the control group (p <0.05). At the end of the treatment, insomnia severity decreased in both pranayama and deep breathing exercise group compare to the before the treatment (p <0.05). It is suggested that both pranayama and deep breathing exercise should be tough by nurse and other health professionals to decrease radiotherapy related fatigue and insomnia and, pranayama and deep breathing exercises should be integrated into clinics and home practices. Keywords: Breast cancer, breathing exercise, fatigue, nursing radiotherapy, sleep quality