The Effect of Relaxation Breathing Exercise on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting

The Effect of Relaxation Breathing Exercise on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients With Hematological Malignancies ABSTRACT Background: Chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of hematological malignancies despite it has important and difficult side effects in patients. Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects in patients and antiemetic drugs may not be always curative. Purpose: This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of relaxation breathing exercise on managing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. Method: A randomized controlled trial design was conducted with a total of selected sixty eight patients with hematological malignancies (34 intervention and 34 control participants) undergoing chemotherapy hospitalized in the hematology clinic of a Training and Research Hospital. The intervention group implemented relaxation breathing exercise three times a day with a standard treatment protocol and the control group only received routine drug treatment for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting were assessed by filling Rhodes Index of Nausea Vomiting and Retching (RINVR) for the first six days after the start of the chemotherapy. Results: Data collection process ended. Data analysis process is in progress. Conclusion: In this study the effectiveness of relaxation breathing exercise on chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting will be examined in patients with hematological malignancies. Keywords: Relaxation breathing exercise; Hematological malignancies; Chemotherapy; Nausea and vomiting