An interventional study of Breathing Exercises and Informational Brochure in Palliative Patients, Terminal Malignant Tumors and Breathing Techniques, sponsored by Atlas University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-10.
Sponsored by Atlas University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to evaluate the effects of supervised breathing exercises on pain, dyspnea, and functionality in terminal-stage cancer patients receiving palliative care. Participants in the intervention group receive diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing exercises under the guidance of a physiotherapist, while the control group receives only an educational brochure. The study compares pre- and post-intervention outcomes between both groups.
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing exercises on pain, dyspnea, and functional status in terminal-stage cancer patients receiving palliative care. Participants are divided into two groups: the intervention group receives supervised breathing exercises by a physiotherapist, while the control group is given an informational brochure without any physical guidance.
The primary objective is to determine whether supervised breathing exercises provide significant improvements in symptom control and functionality compared to usual care. Assessments are made before and after the intervention using validated tools including the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r), the Cancer Dyspnea Scale (CDS), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain.
The study aims to contribute to the clinical evidence supporting non-pharmacological interventions in palliative care and to offer practical approaches for improving quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients.
Atlas University is the lead sponsor of 91 studies on the registry; 25 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in this arm receive supervised breathing exercises performed with a physiotherapist, focusing on diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing techniques.
Behavioral: Breathing Exercises
Participants in this arm receive an informational brochure that explains breathing exercises, but no supervised exercise is provided.
Behavioral: Informational Brochure
Diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing exercises supervised by a physiotherapist.
A brochure providing education about breathing exercises for cancer patients.
dyspnea
Dyspnea severity will be assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System - revised (ESAS-r) dyspnea item. This is a numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no shortness of breath and 10 indicates the worst possible shortness of breath. The outcome will evaluate changes in dyspnea severity following a structured breathing exercise intervention.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 weeks
Functionality
Functionality will be measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System - revised (ESAS-r) physical well-being domain. The ESAS-r is a validated self-report instrument in which patients rate symptom severity on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no impairment and 10 indicating the worst possible level of functional impairment. This outcome assesses changes in participants' ability to perform daily activities such as walking, dressing, and self-care.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 weeks
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: Yes — This clinical trial evaluates the effects of structured respiratory exercises on pain, dyspnea, and physical functionality in terminal-stage cancer patients under palliative care. It is a single-arm interventional study with pre- and post-intervention assessments. Participants perform pursed-lip and diaphragmatic breathing exercises under physiotherapist supervision for one week. The primary outcomes are changes in pain and dyspnea, measured using ESAS-r and CDS. Secondary outcomes include functional status assessed via standardized tools. Data are collected at baseline and after the intervention. The study follows the Declaration of Helsinki and has received institutional ethical approval. Results aim to support the use of non-pharmacological methods in enhancing the quality of life for patients in end-of-life care.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr, Analytic code
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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