Effect of deep-breathing exercise training on reducing stress among maintenance hemodialysis patients:...

Dialysis is a stressful process and follows various psychological and social problems, which can lead to psychological disturbances. Patients on dialysis experience psychological distress, and the reduction of stress in patients provides psychological resources to cope with their physical condition. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of deep-breathing exercise training on the level of stress among maintenance hemodialysis patients.

This study is a randomized quasi-experimental design with parallel groups. A hundred eight hemodialysis patients participated in the study. They were admitted to the Hemodialysis Department of Fatima Al Zahra and Al Hayat centers in Al Diwaniya Teaching Hospital in Al Diwaniya City. The patients were randomly and equally assigned to either the control group or the intervention group (n = 54 each). Stress was measured in both groups; before and four weeks after nursing intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

Before deep-breathing exercises, the total mean percent score of stress in the intervention group was 24.26 ± 4.877 compared to 23.35 ± 3.360 in the controls. After four weeks of performing the exercise, the mean score dramatically decreased to 19.59 ± 3.814 in the intervention group compared to 23.07 ± 3.419 in the control. Additionally, a statistically significant difference within the intervention group was declared before and after the intervention (P < 0.000).

Performing deep-breathing exercises for 15 min twice daily during 4 weeks can reduce maintenance hemodialysis patients' stress levels.