The effect of respiratory exercises on pain and anxiety in patients with chest trauma

Background: Trauma is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and the second leading cause of death in Iran. Most patients with this diagnosis also suffer from chest trauma. Therapeutic goals in patients with chest trauma often include airways maintenance, oxygen therapy, and pain and anxiety management. Aim: To determine the effect of respiratory exercises on pain and anxiety in patients with chest trauma referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ilam, Iran in 2019. Methods: This was an educational-interventional study on patients with chest trauma. Data was collected using a questionnaire addressing patients’ demographic characteristics, the VAS scale for pain measurement, and the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Education consisted of 3 phases including face to face training, as well as practical trainings with and without the presence of a nurse. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Results: Males and females constituted 46 (67.6) and 22 (32.4) patients, respectively. Mean pain scores were 3.49 before and 2.33 after educations which showed statistically significant reduction. Anxiety scores were 54.5 and 47.59 before and after training, respectively showing a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that training respiratory exercises significantly reduced pain and anxiety in chest trauma patients. © 2020 Lahore Medical And Dental College. All rights reserved.