Effects of deep breathing on anxiety, pain, and vital signs in patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration
Abstract
Objective
Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) is a common procedure in contemporary medicine, employed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes across a range of hematological and oncological conditions. While local anesthesia is typically administered, the procedure can still induce anxiety and pain in adult patients. This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of a deep breathing technique (DBT) intervention in mitigating pain and anxiety associated with BMA.
Methods
Sixty patients scheduled for BMA were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received structured DBT training before the procedure, while the control group received standard care without DBT. Anxiety levels were assessed pre-procedurally using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), and post-procedural pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Vital signs were also monitored in both groups before and after the intervention.
Results
A comparative analysis demonstrated that patients in the intervention group exhibited significantly lower levels of anxiety and pain compared to the control group (P = 0.018 and P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in vital signs post-DBT, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that DBT is a valuable non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety and pain in patients undergoing BMA. Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, should be cognizant of the potential for anxiety and pain associated with this procedure and consider integrating DBT into pre-procedural care to optimize patient comfort and well-being.
© 2026 Mostafa Javadi, Ali Parouhan, Seyedeh Esmat Hosseini, published by Shanxi Medical Periodical Press
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