The Effectiveness of Autonomic Nervous System, Sleep Quality, and Immune Regulation for Shift Nurses Practicing Alternative Nostril Breathing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of shift nurses practicing alternative nostril breathing to improve life quality, autonomic nervous system and immune status.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Shift Nurses
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Alternative nostril breathing

Detailed Description

Breathing is regulated by autonomic nervous system. It is well-known that breathing exercise can regulate autonomic nervous function and promote relaxation. However, the mechanism for better immunity and sleep quality is not clear. We postulate that alternative nostril breathing might benefit nurses after undergoing shift work. The benefits could be due to improvement of autonomic nervous function, sleep quality, and even immune function.

The study design will include a randomization of two groups, with a control group and one experimental groups for 3 months (12 weeks). The control group will do normal breathing. The experimental groups will do alternative nostril breathing twice a week (20 minutes/time) for 3 months.

The study primary endpoints are 1) to improve autonomic nervous function, 2) to improve sleep quality and 3) to enhance human immunity.

We anticipate to reach the primary endpoints and publish the primary results in one year.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Changhua County, Taiwan
    • Recruiting
    • Division of Core Laboratory; Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital
    • Contact: Kuender D. Yang, PhD; Phone Number: 886-975617006; Email: yangkd.yeh@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Shift nurses

Exclusion Criteria:

• Upper respiratory tract infection such as nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, nosebleeds, fever and other symptoms.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Normal breathing; The control group will do normal breathing.
Experimental: Alternative nostril breathing; The experimental groups will do alternative nostril breathing twice a week (20 minutes/time) for 3 months.	Behavioral: Alternative nostril breathing; The experimental groups will do alternative nostril breathing twice a week (20 minutes/time) for 3 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Improve sleep quality.	Sleep quality will be assessed by pittsburg sleep quality index at three different times: (1)baseline data: before alternate nostril breathing practice ,(2)outcome data:6 and 12 weeks alternate nostril breathing practice, right after exercise measures post-test.	Change from baseline in sleep quality at 3 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Enhance human immunity	Lymphocytes will be extracted from peripheral blood for analyses of lymphocytes subpopulation, polarization and its related cytokines. Saliva will be collected at 3 different times: (1)baseline data: before alternate nostril breathing program ,(2)outcome data:6 and 12 weeks alternate nostril breathing practice, right after exercise measures post-test.	Change from baseline in human immunity at 3 months.
Improve autonomic nervous function	Autonomic nervous function will be assessed by biofeedback index using heart rate variability at three different times: (1)baseline data: before alternate nostril breathing practice ,(2)outcome data:6 and 12 weeks alternate nostril breathing practice, right after exercise measures post-test.	Change from baseline in autonomic nervous function at 3 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital
• Investigators: Study Director: Kuender D. Yang, PhD, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital; Principal Investigator: Ming-Ho Lee, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): September 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 17, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2014
• Last Verified: September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 1010807