About this trial
Removing a chest tube is a common procedure after chest surgery, but it can cause significant pain and anxiety for patients. Although medications can help reduce these symptoms, they may have side effects and are not always sufficient. Therefore, simple and safe non-drug methods are increasingly used to improve patient comfort.
This randomized controlled study aims to examine the effects of vibration and breathing exercises applied before chest tube removal on patients' pain and anxiety levels. Adult patients with a chest tube will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a vibration group, a breathing exercise group, or a control group receiving standard care. Pain and anxiety levels will be measured before the procedure and after chest tube removal using validated scales.
The findings of this study are expected to show whether vibration and breathing exercises are effective in reducing pain and anxiety during chest tube removal. If effective, these methods may offer nurses an easy, low-cost, and safe way to improve patient comfort and support evidence-based nursing care.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Adult patients aged 18 years and older
Hospitalized patients with an indwelling chest tube scheduled for removal
First-time chest tube placement
Conscious, oriented, and cooperative
Disqualifiers
History of any cognitive or psychiatric disorder
Previous experience with chest tube placement
Requirement for mechanical ventilation or endotracheal intubation
Presence of chronic pain or regular use of analgesic medications
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Vibration and Breathing Exercises
Other interventionParticipants assigned to the intervention group will receive a combined non-pharmacological intervention consisting of vibration application and guided breathing exercises prior to chest tube removal. Vibration will be applied using a portable vibration device placed on the skin near the chest tube insertion site for a standardized duration. The application will be performed while the patient is in a comfortable position. Following the vibration application, participants will be guided through structured breathing exercises, including slow, deep, diaphragmatic, and pursed-lip breathing techniques. These exercises will be conducted by the researcher in a calm and quiet environment to promote relaxation. The combined intervention will be administered in addition to routine clinical care and completed before the chest tube removal procedure.
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity associated with chest tube removal will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a validated 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants will self-report their pain level.
Secondary outcomes
Anxiety Level
Anxiety levels will be measured using the State Anxiety Inventory (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State subscale), a validated self-report questionnaire designed to assess situational anxiety. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.
Locations
Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: