Video-Guided Jaw Relaxation and Breathing Exercises in Children With Burns

August 27, 2026 updated by: ESRA ARDAHAN AKGUL, Izmir Katip Celebi University

Effects of Video-Guided Jaw Relaxation and Breathing Exercises on Anxiety, Fear, and Dressing Duration in Children With Burns: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of video-guided jaw relaxation and video-guided breathing exercises on anxiety, fear, and dressing duration in children with burns. Children aged 4-10 years receiving inpatient care in a pediatric burn unit will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: video-guided jaw relaxation, video-guided breathing exercise, or control. Children in the intervention groups will perform the assigned exercise simultaneously with a 5-minute video before burn dressing, while children in the control group will receive routine care. Anxiety and fear will be assessed at three time points: before the intervention (T1), immediately after the intervention and before dressing (T2), and immediately after dressing (T3). Dressing duration will also be recorded. The study will determine whether these brief, video-guided non-pharmacological interventions reduce anxiety and fear associated with burn dressing and affect dressing duration in children.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Burn dressing procedures can be stressful and anxiety-provoking experiences for children. Repeated exposure to painful dressing procedures may contribute to anticipatory anxiety and fear, which can further complicate the child's experience of burn care. Non-pharmacological interventions may provide a simple and supportive approach to managing these responses alongside routine clinical care.

Jaw relaxation is a relaxation technique that does not require sequential contraction and relaxation of multiple muscle groups. The technique involves allowing the lower jaw to drop slightly, keeping the tongue relaxed on the floor of the mouth, relaxing the lips, and maintaining a slow breathing rhythm consisting of inhalation, exhalation, and rest. Although jaw relaxation has been investigated in adults with burns, evidence regarding its use in children with burns is lacking. This study adapts the technique for children using a brief video-guided approach.

This study is designed as a three-arm randomized controlled trial involving children aged 4-10 years receiving inpatient treatment in a pediatric burn unit. A total of 60 children will be assigned to one of three groups: a video-guided jaw relaxation group, a video-guided breathing exercise group, or a control group. Children in the video-guided jaw relaxation group will watch a 5-minute video demonstrating jaw, tongue, and lip relaxation combined with a slow inhale-exhale-rest breathing rhythm and will perform the demonstrated exercises simultaneously. Children in the video-guided breathing exercise group will follow a 5-minute video demonstrating the same slow breathing rhythm without instructions related to relaxation of the jaw, tongue, or lips. The control group will receive routine care without either video-guided intervention.

Anxiety and fear will be assessed at three time points: before the intervention (T1), immediately after the intervention and before burn dressing (T2), and immediately after completion of the dressing procedure (T3). Anxiety will be assessed using the Children's Anxiety Meter-State, and fear will be assessed using the Child Fear Scale. The total duration of the dressing procedure will also be recorded using a stopwatch.

The study aims to determine and compare the effects of video-guided jaw relaxation and video-guided breathing exercises on anxiety, fear, and dressing duration in children undergoing burn dressing. The findings may provide evidence for a brief, developmentally appropriate, and easily applicable non-pharmacological intervention that can be integrated into pediatric burn care.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Children aged 4-10 years Receiving inpatient treatment in the Pediatric Burn Unit Having undergone at least three previous burn dressing procedures Able to communicate in Turkish No visual or hearing impairment that would prevent participation in the video-guided intervention No administration of an anxiolytic medication before the dressing procedure that could affect the study outcomes No burns involving the face or neck Child and parent/legal guardian willing to participate in the study and provide the required assent/consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Child or parent/legal guardian requesting withdrawal from the study Inability to tolerate or complete the assigned video-guided jaw relaxation or breathing exercise Development of a serious clinical complication or requirement for intensive care during data collection Inability or refusal to comply with the study protocol, including discontinuation or refusal of the assigned intervention

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
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group
Children assigned to the control group will receive routine care without any video-guided relaxation or breathing intervention. Anxiety and fear will be assessed at the same time points as in the intervention groups: before the dressing procedure (T1), immediately before dressing (T2), and immediately after completion of the dressing procedure (T3). The total duration of the dressing procedure will also be recorded.
Active Comparator: Video-Guided Breathing Exercise Group

Intervention Description:

Children assigned to this group will receive a 5-minute video-guided breathing exercise before burn dressing. The video will demonstrate a slow inhale-exhale-rest breathing rhythm, and children will be instructed to perform the breathing exercise simultaneously while watching the video. The video will not include any instructions regarding

Children assigned to this group will receive a 5-minute video-guided breathing exercise before burn dressing. The video will demonstrate a slow inhale-exhale-rest breathing rhythm, and children will be instructed to perform the breathing exercise simultaneously while watching the video. The video will not include any instructions regarding relaxation of the jaw, tongue, or lips. Immediately after the 5-minute intervention, anxiety and fear will be assessed before the dressing procedure.
Active Comparator: Video-Guided Jaw Relaxation Group
Children assigned to this group will receive a 5-minute video-guided jaw relaxation intervention before burn dressing. The video will demonstrate allowing the lower jaw to drop slightly, keeping the tongue relaxed on the floor of the mouth, relaxing the lips, and following a slow inhale-exhale-rest breathing rhythm. Children will be instructed to perform the demonstrated exercises simultaneously while watching the video. Immediately after the 5-minute intervention, anxiety and fear will be assessed before the dressing procedure.

1. Video-Guided Jaw Relaxation

Intervention Description:

Children assigned to this group will receive a 5-minute video-guided jaw relaxation intervention before burn dressing. The video will demonstrate allowing the lower jaw to drop slightly, keeping the tongue relaxed on the floor of the mouth, relaxing the lips, and following a slow inhale-exhale-rest breathing rhythm. Children will be instructed to perform the demonstrated exercises simultaneously while watching the video. Immediately after the 5-minute intervention, anxiety and fear will be assessed before the dressing procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anxiety Level
Time Frame: At three time points: 15 minutes before dressing (T1), immediately before dressing following the 5-minute intervention (T2), and immediately after dressing (T3).
Anxiety will be assessed using the Children's Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S). The CAM-S is a visual scale designed to assess children's current state anxiety. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.
At three time points: 15 minutes before dressing (T1), immediately before dressing following the 5-minute intervention (T2), and immediately after dressing (T3).
Fear Level
Time Frame: At three time points: 15 minutes before dressing (T1), immediately before dressing following the 5-minute intervention (T2), and immediately after dressing (T3).
Fear will be assessed using the Child Fear Scale (CFS), which consists of five facial expressions ranging from 0 (no fear) to 4 (severe fear). Higher scores indicate higher levels of fear.
At three time points: 15 minutes before dressing (T1), immediately before dressing following the 5-minute intervention (T2), and immediately after dressing (T3).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Wound Dressing Duration
Time Frame: During the burn dressing procedure
The total duration of the burn dressing procedure will be measured using a stopwatch. The measurement will begin at the start of the dressing procedure and end when the dressing procedure is completed. Dressing duration will be recorded in minutes.
During the burn dressing procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Esra Ardahan Akgül, PhD, İzmir Katip Çelebi 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)

June 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 27, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 27, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 27826

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared due to the involvement of pediatric participants and considerations regarding participant privacy and confidentiality. Aggregated and anonymized study findings will be reported in scientific publications and presentations.

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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