NCT01886391

Health Behavior-Related Outcomes With Diaphragmatic Breathing Retraining in Heart Failure Patients

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Nebraska · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 19 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to provide information on how the practicing of deep breathing ("DBR" - diaphragmatic breathing re-training) may improve the health outcomes and likelihood of heart failure patients to engage in health-promoting activities by successfully controlling their shortness of breath (dyspnea).

Detailed description

In heart failure (HF) patients, dyspnea (shortness of breath), a key contributor to and the strongest predictor of a chief reason for hospital readmission with fatigue, are the primary reasons for modification in function leading to decreased physical activity (PA). Dyspnea and fatigue lead to activity avoidance, subsequent muscle de-conditioning, and further increases of dyspnea at even lower levels of activity. Depression, because of its moderate relationship both with perceived functional status and dyspnea, can further diminish PA and increase disability in activities of daily living (ADLs). Strategies to minimize or mitigate dyspnea and to boost motivation are imperative for improving adherence to PA, and, in turn, improving fatigue, muscle weakness, PA itself, functional status, disability, and depression in HF patients. Thus, diaphragmatic breathing retraining (DBR) or deep breathing with a slow breathing pattern, a focus on decreasing dyspnea, and mediated by Self-efficacy for DBR and informal caregiver support during the DBR provide an innovative approach to positively impact the spiraling effects of HF. The purpose of this pilot/feasibility study is to evaluate a diaphragmatic breathing retraining (DBR) intervention that incorporates informal caregiver coaching to improve the primary outcomes of dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle weakness, and the secondary outcomes of PA, functional status, depression, disability, and depression.

Conditions

• Chronic Heart Failure

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Diaphragmatic Breathing Retraining	Diaphragmatic breathing retraining (DBR) with a slow breathing pattern such that breathe in slowly through the nose for 4 seconds and breathe out slowly through the mouth for 6 seconds and mediated by Self-efficacy for DBR. Patients in this group will receive detailed instructions, in-person, as to how to carry out the DBR intervention at home. They will provide a return demonstration to the research staff about how to do the deep breathing. They will also receive a written script of the DBR intervention. In addition to the script, patients in this group will receive 3 audio CDs (1 for week 1 \[5-min DBR\], 1 for week 2 \[10-min DBR\], 1 for weeks 3-8 \[15-min DBR\]), developed by the PI, to use to practice their deep breathing.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-11-01
• Primary completion: 2012-05-15
• Completion: 2012-05-15
• First posted: 2013-06-25
• Last updated: 2024-10-17