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Experimental Research Paper | Nursing | Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 1518 - 1521 | India
Effectiveness of Deep Breathing Exercise in Reducing Pain among Cancer Patients
Abstract: Background: Cancer pain is one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients, significantly affecting their physical, psychological, and social well-being. In addition to pharmacological management, deep breathing exercise is a simple, safe, and cost-effective complementary nursing intervention that may help reduce pain. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of deep breathing exercise in reducing pain among cancer patients. Methods: A quantitative research approach with a true experimental pre-test?post-test control group design was adopted. Sixty eligible cancer patients were recruited using purposive sampling and randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups using the lottery method. Pain was assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The experimental group received deep breathing exercise twice daily for five consecutive days in addition to routine hospital care, whereas the control group received routine hospital care alone. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean pain score in the experimental group decreased significantly from 4.50 (SD=1.59) before the intervention to 0.23 (SD=0.72) after the intervention. The paired t-test demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain (t=4.775, p=0.001). Comparison of post-intervention pain scores between the experimental and control groups also revealed a statistically significant difference, confirming the effectiveness of deep breathing exercise in reducing pain. Conclusion: Deep breathing exercise was effective in reducing pain among cancer patients. As a simple, safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective nursing intervention, it can be incorporated into routine oncology nursing practice as an adjunct to pharmacological pain management.
Keywords: Cancer patients, Deep breathing exercise, Cancer pain, Pain management, non-pharmacological intervention
How to Cite?: Moti Siboh, Mitali Barman, Mary Lalhlimpuii, "Effectiveness of Deep Breathing Exercise in Reducing Pain among Cancer Patients", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1518-1521, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26628165338, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26628165338