The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Breathing Exercises on Dyspnea, Symptom Control, and Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Plain-language summary

This research is designed to determine the effect of mindfulness-based breathing exercises on dyspnea, symptom control, and quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Lung cancer is a disease with a high mortality rate and a heavy symptom burden, and symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, pain, anxiety, and sleep problems are frequently observed during chemotherapy. Dyspnea, in particular, is one of the main symptoms that has both physical and emotional dimensions and significantly negatively affects patients' daily living activities, adherence to treatment, and quality of life. Therefore, integrating non-pharmacological and complementary nursing interventions into the care process in addition to pharmacological approaches is important. Mindfulness-based breathing exercises are a structured application that aims to regulate the respiratory rhythm, increase relaxation, and reduce symptom perception by enabling the individual to focus on their breath and bodily sensations without judgment. The research will be conducted using a pre-test-post-test control group experimental design. The study will be carried out with lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital between April 2026 and September 2026. The study sample will consist of a total of 60 patients (30 experimental, 30 control) who meet the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agree to participate. Randomization will be used to determine the groups. Patients in the intervention group will receive a mindfulness-based breathing exercise program for eight weeks. The first four weeks will consist of 20-30 minute face-to-face individual training sessions once a week, followed by four weeks of 15-20 minute exercises at home twice a week. The control group will receive no intervention other than routine care. Data will be collected before and eight weeks after the intervention using a Personal Information Form, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, the EORTC QLQ-C30 Quality of Life Scale, and the Dyspnea-12 TR Scale. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation will be calculated for data analysis; chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and dependent samples t-test will be used for intergroup comparisons. This study is expected to provide evidence-based contributions to nursing care by demonstrating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based breathing exercises in reducing dyspnea and symptom burden and improving quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

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