Effect of Nurse-Directed Therapeutic Positioning in Children With Pneumonia

November 2, 2026 updated by: Nidaa Hazem Mardan, University of Baghdad

Effectiveness of Nurse- Directed Therapeutic Positioning on Vital Signs, Oxygen Saturation, and Respiratory Distress Severity Among Children With Pneumonia: A Comparative Study

Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection in children that may cause respiratory distress and impaired oxygenation. This quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-directed therapeutic positioning on vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity among children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia. The study will compare two therapeutic positioning interventions, side-lying position and semi-Fowler's position, with a control group receiving routine nursing care. The outcomes will be assessed to determine the effects of these positioning interventions on the respiratory status of children with pneumonia.

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.

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.
150

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 Contact Backup

  • Name: Adraa H Shawq, Phd

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

3 years to 5 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Children aged 3-5 years.
  2. Children diagnosed with pneumonia.
  3. Children admitted to the selected pediatric hospitals.
  4. Children whose parents/guardians provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Children with chronic respiratory diseases.
  2. Children with congenital heart disease.
  3. Children with neuromuscular disorders.
  4. Children requiring mechanical ventilation

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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: Side - Lying position Group

Children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia will receive nurse-directed therapeutic positioning in the side-lying position. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity will be assessed according to the study protocol.
Behavioral: Nurse - Directed Side - Lying Positioning

Nurse-directed therapeutic positioning will be implemented for children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia. Children assigned to this group will be placed in the side-lying position under nursing supervision, with attention to comfort, safety, and clinical tolerance. The selected side, duration of each positioning session, frequency of application, and total intervention period will be specified in the study protocol. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity will be assessed according to the study's measurement schedule to evaluate changes following the intervention.
Experimental: Semi - Fowler's Position Group

Children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia will receive nurse-directed therapeutic positioning in the semi-Fowler's position. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity will be assessed according to the study protocol.
Behavioral: Nurse - Directed Semi-fowler's positioning

Nurse-directed therapeutic positioning will be implemented for children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia. Children assigned to this group will be positioned in the semi-Fowler's position, with the head and upper body elevated according to the study protocol. Nursing supervision will be provided to maintain the child's comfort and safety and to monitor clinical tolerance. The elevation angle, duration of each positioning session, frequency of application, and total intervention period will be specified in the study protocol. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity will be assessed according to the study's measurement schedule to evaluate changes following the intervention.
No Intervention: Control Group

Children aged 3-5 years diagnosed with pneumonia will receive routine nursing care according to the hospital's standard practice. Vital signs, oxygen saturation, and respiratory distress severity will be assessed according to the study protocol.

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
Change in Respiratory Rate
Time Frame: At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Respiratory rate will be measured in breaths per minute and compared among the semi-Fowler, side-lying, and control groups.
At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.
Change in Respiratory Distress Severity
Time Frame: At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Respiratory distress severity will be assessed using the Clinical Respiratory Score (CRS), which consists of six parameters: respiratory rate, auscultation, use of accessory muscles, mental status, room air oxygen saturation, and skin color. Each parameter is scored from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher scores indicate greater respiratory distress. Change in respiratory distress severity will be compared among the semi-Fowler, side-lying, and control groups.
At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.
Change in Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Time Frame: At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Peripheral oxygen saturation will be measured using a pulse oximeter and compared among the semi-Fowler, side-lying, and control groups.
At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.
Change in Heart Rate
Time Frame: At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Heart rate will be measured in beats per minute and compared among the semi-Fowler, side-lying, and control groups.
At baseline (before the application of the assigned therapeutic positioning method); and immediately after completion of the intervention.

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.
University of Baghdad

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Adraa H Shawq, Phd, University of Baghdad, College of Nursing

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.
December 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.
March 1, 2027

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.
March 1, 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).
October 24, 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.
November 2, 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.
November 3, 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.
November 3, 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.
November 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.
October 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.
  • NUR-TP-PNEU

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers. Data confidentiality will be maintained, and study findings will be reported in aggregate form without identifying individual participants.

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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