This study aims to explore whether an 8-week Triflow breath training program reduced the anxiety levels and improved the heart rate variability and quality of life of patients receiving hemodialysis. To investigate the effect of the triflow respiration training on the improvement of heart rate variability, anxiety, and the quality of life in hemodialysis patients.
Method:This research adapted the cluster randomization design. The participants were divided into the first group of patients undergoing hemodialysis every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and the second group undergoing dialysis every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The experimental group and the control group were randomly assigned by a coin toss. The investigators conducted the study for eight weeks and investigated the effects of respiration training on the improvement of heart rate variability, anxiety, and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Patients in the experimental group receive the triaflow respiration training three times a week for eight weeks during hemodialysis. Data were collected by a heart rate variability monitor, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and WHOQOL-BREF at baseline and after a 8-week respiration training.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
63
The participants were asked to be seated comfortably and raise their heads by 30° with the guidance of the investigator. During the inspiration process, the participants' abdomens bulged. They then held their breaths for 5 seconds before exhaling from their mouths for twice the duration of inspiration. Breath training was performed five times each hour throughout the three-hour duration of each dialysis session. In sum, the experimental group performed Triflow breath training 15 times during each dialysis session. The experimental group and the control group were randomly assigned by a coin toss.
Taipei Medical University
Taipei, Taiwan
Changes of heart rate variability, the measurement indices were the total power, which reflects the autonomic tone; the low-frequency component of heart rate variability.
The heart rate variability was measured using the 60601-1 program provided by Daily Care BioMedical, and the balance of their autonomic nervous systems was analyzed using the 60601-1 software.
Time frame: For the experimental group, heart rate variability was measured each week during the 8-week breath training. For the control group, heart rate variability was measured at the first, 4th and the 8th week.
Changes of the level of anxiety
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is used to measure the levels of anxiety. It consists of two subscales: one for state anxiety and the other for trait anxiety. Each subscale comprises 20 items, rated using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = hardly; 2 = sometimes; 3 = often; and 4 = almost always), with a total score of 20-80.
Time frame: The level of anxiety was measured at the first week, 4th week and the 8th week.
Changes of the level of quality of life
The Chinese version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Edition (WHOQoL-BREF) was used, which consists of 28 items. All items are rated using a 5-point Likert scale. Each Quality of life dimension differs in the number of items, and its score is determined by multiplying the mean score of all its items by 4. The average score of each dimension ranges from 4 to 20, with a higher score indicating a better Quality of life.
Time frame: The level of quality of life was measured at the first week, 4th week and the 8th week.
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