Box Breathing for Anxiety, Pain and Nausea in ERCP Patients

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a non-pharmacological breathing technique, known as box breathing, on anxiety, pain, and nausea in adult patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP is an invasive endoscopic procedure that may cause significant physical and psychological discomfort, including increased anxiety, pain, and nausea. Participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving standard care plus box breathing training or a control group receiving standard care alone. The box breathing technique consists of four equal phases of breathing (inhale, hold, exhale, hold), each lasting four seconds. Anxiety, pain, and nausea levels are assessed before ERCP and within the first 24 hours after the procedure. The results of this study may contribute to improving patient comfort and supporting the use of simple, nurse-led interventions in clinical practice.

NCT Number	NCT07328477
Lead Sponsor	Acibadem University
Conditions	Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Anxiety, Pain, Nausea
Enrollment	70 participants
Start Date	2025-07-15
Primary Completion	2026-03-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-03-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-18