THE EFFECTS OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHM-BASED PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION EXERCISES IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

April 2, 2026 updated by: Ayşegül Topuz, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University

THE EFFECTS OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHM-BASED PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION EXERCISES ON SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, SLEEP QUALITY, COMFORT, AND MENTAL WELL-BEING IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercise (PGE) applied according to the circadian rhythms of hemodialysis (HD) patients on symptom management, sleep quality, comfort and mental well-being levels and to examine the experiences of HD patients regarding PGE application. A sequential mixed method research design will be used in the study. The quantitative part of the study was planned as a randomized controlled double-blind experimental study. The qualitative part will be conducted as a qualitative research to be carried out with individual in-depth interview method in order to examine the opinions of the individuals in the intervention group regarding the 8-week PGE applied according to the circadian rhythm. In the collection of research data, the Introductory Information Form, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Dialysis Symptom Index, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale - Version II, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMIOÖ), Individual Follow-up Form, Progressive Relaxation Exercise Application Guideline (PGEUY) and In-Depth Interview Form with Individuals in the Intervention Group will be used.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercise (PGE) applied according to the circadian rhythms of hemodialysis (HD) patients on symptom management, sleep quality, comfort and mental well-being levels and to examine the experiences of HD patients regarding PGE application. A sequential mixed method research design will be used in the study. The quantitative part of the study was planned as a randomized controlled double-blind experimental study. The qualitative part will be conducted as a qualitative research to be carried out with individual in-depth interview method in order to examine the opinions of the individuals in the intervention group regarding the 8-week PGE applied according to the circadian rhythm. In the collection of research data, the Introductory Information Form, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Dialysis Symptom Index, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale - Version II, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMIOÖ), Individual Follow-up Form, Progressive Relaxation Exercise Application Guideline (PGEUY) and In-Depth Interview Form with Individuals in the Intervention Group will be used. According to the results of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; A PGE application schedule will be created for individuals in the Intervention I group at 08:00-10:00 for morning cravings and 20:00-22:00 for evening cravings. In the Intervention II group, the same schedule will be created for morning cravings at 20:00-22:00 and for evening cravings at 08:00-10:00. Individuals in the intervention groups will be asked to apply PGE at the specified times every day for 8 weeks. After all applications are completed, Dialysis Symptom Index, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale-Version II, PUKI, and WEMİOÖ will be applied to the individuals again by the scholarship holder. No application will be made to the individuals in the control group for 8 weeks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
75

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 and 65 years of age,
  • have no mental or physical disabilities that would prevent them from answering the questions,
  • have no problems related to touch, temperature perception, hearing, or vision,
  • are relatively independent in performing daily activities,
  • do not use any pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods to facilitate sleep,
  • have been receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment for at least 3 months,
  • are able to communicate and cooperate.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • are bedridden,
  • have physical limitations preventing them from performing relaxation exercises,
  • have been practicing relaxation exercises (such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, etc.) within the last 6 months,
  • are classified as intermediate type (neither type) according to the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire,
  • engage in regular exercise,
  • have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders such as depression or schizophrenia,
  • do not consent to participate in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention 1
The group in harmony with the circadian rhythm; according to the results of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the application time for morning types will be planned between 08:00-10:00, while for evening types it will be planned between 20:00-22:00.
Other: Progressive Relaxation Exercises
Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE) begin with deep breathing exercises that facilitate relaxation and continue with muscle tension-relaxation exercises. Individuals in the intervention group will perform PRE for 30 minutes each day, accompanied by the video, at times.
Experimental: Intervention 2
The group is not in harmony with the circadian rhythm; according to the results of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, the application times for evening types will be planned between 08:00-10:00, while for morning types they will be planned between 20:00-22:00.
Other: Progressive Relaxation Exercises
Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE) begin with deep breathing exercises that facilitate relaxation and continue with muscle tension-relaxation exercises. Individuals in the intervention group will perform PRE for 30 minutes each day, accompanied by the video, at times.
No Intervention: Control
No intervention will be applied to the individuals in this group for 8 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire
Time Frame: Preprocedural
The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) consists of 19 items. Fourteen of these items are multiple-choice questions, while the remaining five items include time-scale questions in which participants are asked to mark the time point most appropriate for them. Participants receive a score based on their responses to each of the 19 items, and the total MEQ score is obtained by summing these scores. Lower MEQ scores are associated with the evening chronotype, whereas higher scores are associated with the morning chronotype. Finally, individuals are classified into five different chronotype groups based on their MEQ scores: definitely evening type, moderately evening type, neither type, moderately morning type, and definitely morning type. This questionnaire will be used to determine the morningness-eveningness chronotypes of the patients.
Preprocedural
Dialysis Symptom Index
Time Frame: Periprocedural
The scale includes 30 symptoms describing physical or emotional conditions. Patients respond to the symptoms they have experienced during the past week as yes or no, where "no" indicates that the symptom was not experienced and "yes" indicates that the symptom was experienced. If the response is "yes," the degree to which the symptom affects the patient is evaluated using a five-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much). After summing the scores obtained, the total scale score is calculated. The total score ranges between 0 and 150, with scores closer to 150 indicating a greater impact of symptoms. This scale will be used to assess the dialysis symptoms and their severity in patients.
Periprocedural
Hemodialysis Comfort Scale-Version II
Time Frame: Periprocedural
This scale is a 5-point Likert-type instrument consisting of 26 items and six subdimensions: physical relief, physical ease, psychospiritual relief, psychospiritual transcendence, environmental transcendence, and sociocultural relief. As the scale score increases, the level of comfort increases, whereas lower scores indicate a lower level of comfort. The total scale score ranges from 26 to 130. This scale will be used to evaluate the comfort levels of the patients.
Periprocedural
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index
Time Frame: Periprocedural
The index, which evaluates sleep patterns over the past month, consists of 19 items and 7 components. Eighteen of the items included in the index scoring are grouped into seven component scores. These components assess subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each item is scored on a 0-3 scale, and the sum of the seven component scores yields the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. The total PSQI score ranges from 0 to 21, obtained by summing the subscale scores. A total PSQI score greater than five indicates poor sleep quality, with 89.6% sensitivity and 86.5% specificity, and suggests severe impairment in at least two areas or moderate impairment in three areas mentioned above. This scale will be used to evaluate the sleep quality of the patients.
Periprocedural
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale
Time Frame: Periprocedural
The scale consists of 14 items and is a 5-point Likert-type instrument scored as follows: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = somewhat agree, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree. There are no reverse-scored items in the scale. The minimum possible score is 14, and the maximum possible score is 70. This scale will be used to assess the mental well-being levels of the patients.
Periprocedural

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 22, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ETHICHS ID: 2024/259
  • 225S904 (Other Grant/Funding Number: THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF TURKIYE (TUBITAK))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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