Comparison of the effect of diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing on anxiety in women undergoing hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries in women, which causes many physical and psychological complications including anxiety. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing on anxiety in women undergoing hysterectomy.

In this double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 126 patients referred to Taleghani hospital of Arak during 2017-2019 were selected by convenience sampling, and then assigned into three groups of diaphragmatic breathing, pursed lip breathing and control using the random number table. Anxiety was measured the evening before the operation (before the intervention), one hour before entering the operating room (after the intervention) and two hours after the operation, using the Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics using the SPSS software version 16.

The mean and standard deviation of anxiety scores for the diaphragmatic breathing, pursed lip breathing, and control groups were 55.33±10.49, 55.4±9.84, and 55.07±11.31 respectively, and there was no significant difference between the groups (P=0.983). One hour before going to the operating room (after the intervention), the mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score was 41.98±8.5, 42.43±7.88, and 52.86±11.5, respectively, and after the operation, the scores decreased to 37.79±8.13, 38.07±8.33 and 50.62±11.35 respectively. There was a significant difference between the three groups (P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the anxiety scores between the diaphragmatic breathing group and the pursed-lip breathing group after the intervention (P=0.999).

The results of this study showed the diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing techniques are effective in reducing hysterectomy anxiety in women. Therefore, using this non-pharmacological approach is recommended to reduce anxiety before and after hysterectomy surgery.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180103038211N4