Investigation of the Effect of Structured Energy Conservation Techniques Training on COPD Patients

August 10, 2026 updated by: Zeynep ASAL, Akdeniz University

Investigation of the Effects of Structured Energy Conservation Techniques Training on Activities of Daily Living, Fatigue, and Exercise Capacity in COPD Patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, sputum production, and/or exacerbations) due to persistent, often progressive airflow obstruction resulting from abnormalities in the airways (bronchiolitis, bronchitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema). COPD is a multifaceted disease that is not limited to respiratory symptoms but also negatively affects individuals' functional capacity, physical endurance, and participation in daily living activities. Common symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a significant feeling of fatigue; this can lead to decreased exercise capacity, limitations in daily living activities, and ultimately dependence over time. Therefore, in the treatment of COPD, not only drug therapy but also interventions aimed at symptom control and improving functional capacity are becoming increasingly important. Energy conservation techniques, included in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, are based on the view that dyspnea occurs most intensely during daily living activities, and that performing these activities in an energy-conserving manner will result in less dyspnea. Energy conservation techniques are one of the trainings given to improve symptom management in COPD patients. Disease symptoms can increase in COPD patients during tasks such as washing hair, drying hair, shaving, reaching, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling weights. When appropriate body mechanics and tools that facilitate tasks are used, the amount of energy required during these tasks decreases. In this way, it is thought that patients will be more active in their daily living activities. Breathing exercises are also a component of pulmonary rehabilitation and support the increase of respiratory muscle function and exercise tolerance. Accordingly, it is thought that structured energy conservation techniques training can improve daily living activities, fatigue, and exercise capacity in COPD patients. This research will be conducted as a pre-test-post-test, single-blind, randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of structured energy conservation techniques training on daily living activities, fatigue, and exercise capacity in COPD patients.

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

In chronic diseases, education is the most important tool for enabling self-treatment, lifestyle modifications, and the development of methods to prevent disease progression. The goals of patient education in COPD are to reduce disease symptoms and acute exacerbations. Another goal is to prevent COPD-related complications and to educate patients or their families. Energy conservation techniques are one type of education given to improve symptom management in COPD patients. Energy conservation techniques consist of personal energy conservation methods when performing physical activities. With these approaches, the energy requirements of activities are reduced. Thanks to energy conservation techniques during physical activity, it is possible to complete the activity with less dyspnea. Some energy conservation techniques include performing daily activities while sitting, placing frequently used objects between waist and shoulder level, using long-handled tools that make tasks easier, and using a wheeled carrier to facilitate carrying items. Breathing exercises, on the other hand, improve the exercise tolerance of patients by effectively using the diaphragm. Pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing are frequently used in COPD patients. Pursed-lip breathing is defined as active and prolonged exhalation performed with slightly parted lips. After taking a deep breath through the nose, exhalation is performed by pursing the lips in a whistling manner, increasing pressure in the bronchi. This breathing exercise prevents premature closure of the bronchi by increasing the pressure during exhalation, extending the expiration time and allowing more air to be expelled. In diaphragmatic breathing, the patient lies on their back or in a semi-sitting position, placing one hand on the front of their chest and the other on their abdomen. As they slowly inhale as much air as possible through their nose, they feel their abdomen slowly rise. While slowly exhaling the air taken in with pursed-lip breathing, they gently apply pressure with the hand on their abdomen. When both breathing exercises are performed regularly, they help reduce the patient's respiratory distress. In conclusion, structured energy conservation techniques training can be effective in increasing functional capacity and improving symptoms in COPD patients. Therefore; This study aimed to investigate the effects of structured energy conservation techniques training on daily living activities, fatigue, and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.

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.
70

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

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

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:

  • Patients who have been admitted to the pulmonary diseases ward or have applied to the pulmonary diseases outpatient clinic,
  • Patients diagnosed with COPD,
  • Patients in category E of the GOLD A, B, E classification (patients experiencing more than 2 moderate exacerbations or having multiple hospitalizations) (GOLD, 2025)
  • Patients over 40 years of age (Adeloye et al, 2015).
  • Patients who will continue their health check-ups at the Isparta City Hospital Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic,
  • Patients who agree to participate in the study,
  • Patients or at least one of their relatives who can read and write,
  • Patients or at least one of their relatives who does not have communication problems will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with serious orthopedic problems that may have a significant impact on daily activities,
  • Patients with progressive neuromuscular disease,
  • Patients who have experienced unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within the last month,
  • Patients living alone,
  • Patients in groups A and B of the GOLD ABE classification will not be included. For patients in group A, mMRC 0-1, CAT<10 are used as criteria; for patients in group B, mMRC≥2, CAT≥10 are used as criteria (GOLD, 2025).

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: Single

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 group
Structured energy conservation techniques training will be conducted with this group. The 'structured energy conservation techniques training,' conducted by the researcher, will last approximately 20-30 minutes. A brochure will be used as training material. Videos related to the topic will be utilized during the training. The videos used in the training will be shared with patients via WhatsApp, and patients will be asked to review the brochure twice a week. During the four-week follow-up period, reminders will be sent to these patients twice a week via WhatsApp or phone calls.
Other: Structured Energy Conservation Techniques Training
Energy conservation techniques (ECT) consist of personal energy conservation methods while performing physical activities. These approaches modify or reduce the energy requirements of activities. Thanks to ECT, it is possible to complete physical activity with little or no dyspnea (Özyılmaz and Gürses, 2012). ECT training consists of six principles: prioritizing activities, planning a daily schedule, adjusting it to suit oneself, positioning, pursed-lip breathing, and a positive attitude (Pohaci, Riani, and Hartoyo, 2013). The content of ECT training includes teaching diaphragmatic breathing to the patient, encouraging them to perform activities requiring upper limb support while seated, emphasizing the importance of asking for help from family members when needed, planning the day and allocating time for rest, holding materials between the shoulder blade and pelvis, avoiding bending, training on proper postures, and demonstrating how to perform activities (Velloso, 2006).
No Intervention: control group
Routine procedures will be carried out.

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
Activities of Daily Living Scale
Time Frame: 1 month
The "Activities of Daily Living Scale" specific to COPD patients is based on the 12 activities of daily living (ensuring a safe environment, communication, breathing, feeding, excretion, personal hygiene and clothing, body temperature control, movement, work and leisure, sexual expression, sleep, and death) specified in the nursing model. The Activities of Daily Living Scale consists of 12 sub-dimensions and 47 items. The development of this scale utilizes the validity and reliability assessment principles adopted in the literature. It is developed by the researcher.
1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale
Time Frame: 1 month
The fatigue-related items in the 40-item FACIT Scale are located under the "Other Concerns" subcategory. The FACIT Fatigue Scale is a 13-item scale that assesses self-reported fatigue. Each item on the scale is rated from 0 to 4.
1 month
Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
Time Frame: 1 month
Time-distance walking was first introduced by Balke in the 1960s as a simple and objective measure of functional capacity (Balke, 1963). The six-minute walk test is an easily applicable physical performance test reflecting functional capacity, performed on a flat surface. The test evaluates the maximum walking distance within six minutes. In the study, oxygen saturation values, heart rate, blood pressure, and dyspnea scores using the modified Borg scale will be recorded before and after each test.
1 month

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.
Akdeniz 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.
October 10, 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.
December 10, 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.
January 10, 2027

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).
May 6, 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.
May 6, 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.
May 12, 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.
August 12, 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.
August 10, 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.
May 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.
  • !---''ZEYNEP-ASAL-000000000001

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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