Effect of AI-Assisted Respiratory Training on Pain, Fatigue and Respiratory Parameters in Patients After Open Heart Surgery

June 22, 2026 updated by: Yaren Yurdakul, Kocaeli University

The Effect of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Respiratory Training on Pain, Fatigue and Respiratory Parameters in Patients After Open Heart Surgery

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted respiratory training on fatigue, pain, and respiratory parameters in patients after open heart surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Open heart surgery and related procedures (such as sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and chest tubes) can negatively affect pulmonary functions and cause postoperative pain, fatigue, and limited respiratory muscle function. While standard care involves respiratory exercises, there is insufficient data regarding the combination of upper extremity Range of Motion (ROM) exercises with deep breathing. This study will utilize AI-generated educational videos, created using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Adobe Firefly, to guide patients in performing these exercises safely and correctly. Participants will be randomized into three groups: a Rhythmic Breathing group, a Range of Motion-Deep Breathing (ROM-DB) group, and a Control group. The interventions will be applied for three consecutive days. The study will evaluate outcomes including respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate, pain levels, fatigue, dyspnea, and chest tube drainage volume.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

111

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • İzmit
      • Kocaeli, İzmit, Turkey (Türkiye), 41380
        • Recruiting
        • Kocaeli University
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Yasemin Özhanlı, 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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients undergoing elective open heart surgery.
  • Conscious.
  • Speaks and understands Turkish.
  • Has a chest tube inserted (on the right and/or left side).
  • No visual, auditory, or mental problems.
  • Willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Undergoing concurrent other chest surgery or having a history of re-surgery.
  • Development of early postoperative complications (e.g., atelectasis) within 0-3 days.
  • Any loss of an extremity.
  • Long-term immobilization and intubation.
  • Development of severe post-surgery infections (such as mediastinitis or sepsis) or respiratory complications (such as pneumonia or atelectasis).

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rhythmic Breathing Group
Patients will watch an AI-generated video via tablet and simultaneously perform a 3x3x3 rhythmic breathing exercise, which consists of inhaling for 3 seconds, holding the breath for 3 seconds, and exhaling for 3 seconds. The exercise will be repeated 5 times per session, once a day, for 3 days.
Other: Rhythmic Breathing Group
Patients in this group will watch an artificial intelligence-generated educational video on a tablet. Following the visual and auditory instructions in the video, they will perform a rhythmic breathing exercise consisting of inhaling for 3 seconds, holding the breath for 3 seconds, and exhaling for 3 seconds. The exercise will be performed for 5 repetitions, once a day, for 3 consecutive days under the supervision of the researcher.
Experimental: Range of Motion-Deep Breathing (ROM-DN) Group
Patients will watch an AI-generated video via tablet and simultaneously perform upper extremity Range of Motion (ROM) exercises combined with deep breathing. The exercise consists of 5 sets of controlled inspiration and expiration synchronized with arm abduction and adduction. This will be applied once a day for 3 days.
Other: Range of Motion-Deep Breathing (ROM-DN) Group
Patients in this group will watch an artificial intelligence-generated educational video on a tablet. They will perform upper extremity range of motion (abduction and adduction) exercises synchronized with deep inspiration and expiration. This exercise will be performed for 5 repetitions, once a day, for 3 consecutive days under the supervision of the researcher.
No Intervention: Control Group
Patients in this group will not receive the study-specific video exercises. They will be monitored under the clinic's standard routine care protocol, which includes standard breathing exercises and the use of an incentive spirometer (triflo).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Respiratory Rate
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline (before intervention), and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Measured continuously as breaths per minute while the patient is at rest.
Evaluated at baseline (before intervention), and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Change in Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Measured as a percentage (%) using a noninvasive pulse oximeter
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Change in Heart Rate
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Measured as beats per minute at rest using a noninvasive patient monitor.
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Pain Level
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Evaluated using the self-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where "0" indicates no pain and "10" indicates unbearable pain. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Fatigue Level
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where "0" indicates no fatigue and "10" indicates unbearable fatigue. Higher scores represent increased fatigue.
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dyspnea Level
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Evaluated using the Modified Borg Scale (CR-10), a category-ratio scale ranging from 0 (nothing at all) to 10. Higher scores indicate higher perceived exertion/dyspnea.
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Chest Tube Drainage Level
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
The fluid level change in the chest tube drainage system, measured in centimeters (cm).
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session).
Presence of Chest Tube Tidaling
Time Frame: Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session)
Observational evaluation of fluid movement (tidaling) in the drainage system, recorded categorically as "movement present" or "no movement".
Evaluated at baseline, and Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 (measured both before and 5 minutes after the exercise session)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Kocaeli University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yaren Yurdakul, BSC, Kocaeli University
  • Study Chair: Yasemin Özhanlı, PHD, Kocaeli 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 (Actual)

February 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026/02/33

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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