Dyspnea and Psychosocial Effects of Hand Fan Application in COPD Patients (COPD)

Effect of Hand Fan Applied to COPD Patients on Dyspnea, Illness Perception, Anxiety and Depression: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Experimental Study

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of hand fan application on dyspnea, illness perception, anxiety, and depression in COPD patients. A total of 56 voluntary COPD patients (28 experimental, 28 control) will be recruited from Ardahan State Hospital Chest Diseases Clinic.

Patients will be randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group will receive a hand fan and use it for 10 minutes daily for six weeks, while the control group will receive standard care. Dyspnea, illness perception, anxiety, and depression will be assessed using the Visual Dyspnea Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and after six weeks.

Data will be analyzed using statistical software. This study is expected to contribute to the literature by evaluating a non-pharmacological intervention for COPD-related dyspnea and psychological outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; Anxiety; COPD; Dyspnea; Illness Perception
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hand Fan Application; Other: Standard Care for COPD Patients

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 59
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ardahan
    • Ardahan, Ardahan, Turkey (Türkiye), 75000
      • Derya ŞİMŞEKLİ

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Orientation and cooperation
• No communication problems

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a COPD exacerbation in the last 4 weeks

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental group; hand fan application	Behavioral: Hand Fan Application; Participants in the experimental group will be instructed to use a hand fan to cool their face for 10 minutes each day for a period of 6 weeks. The fan should be held approximately 15 cm from the face, focusing on the middle area. This intervention aims to alleviate symptoms of dyspnea and improve psychological well-being, including anxiety, depression, and illness perception. The participants will receive daily reminders to ensure consistent application of the intervention.
Active Comparator: Control group; standard care	Other: Standard Care for COPD Patients; Participants in the control group will receive standard care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. This includes routine management and treatment as prescribed by their healthcare providers, such as medication and lifestyle recommendations. They will not be instructed to use a hand fan or any other cooling device during the study period. The control group will continue their regular care without any additional interventions from the research team.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dyspnea Severity	The primary outcome measure of this study will be the severity of dyspnea, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). This scale is a subjective tool used to measure the intensity of shortness of breath experienced by participants.	Pre-intervention: Before the start of the intervention (baseline measurement).Post-intervention: After 6 weeks of intervention (final measurement).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Illness Perception	Measured using the Illness Perception Questionnaire	Pre-intervention: Before the start of the intervention (baseline measurement).Post-intervention: After 6 weeks of intervention (final measurement).
Anxiety and Depression	Measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)	Pre-intervention: Before the start of the intervention (baseline measurement).Post-intervention: After 6 weeks of intervention (final measurement).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ardahan University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 3, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): September 14, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Behavioral Symptoms; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Dyspnea; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Quality of Health Care; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Standard of Care
• Other Study ID Numbers: ArdahanU-Simsekli-DS-04

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No