METHODS
This study was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design. 56 lung cancer patients were
randomly assigned to the intervention group (n:27) receiving fan therapy and the control group (n:29)
receiving routine therapy. The intervention group had a hand fan applied to the face for five minutes
twice a day for five days. The Cancer Dyspnea Scale, General Comfort Scale-Short Form, and Vital Signs
Monitoring Form were completed before and after the intervention.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the Cancer Dyspnea Scale and the General Comfort Scale-Short
Form scores of patients in the intervention and control groups before and after the application (p>0.05). The
intervention group had a significantly lower mean heart rate compared to the control group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The study found that using a handheld fan for five minutes twice a day for five days did not affect the patients"
dyspnea or comfort level. However, it did result in a reduction in heart rate from physiological parameters.
Keywords: Evidence-based practices; dyspnea; fan application; lung cancer; nursing; symptom management
Especially in advanced cancer patients, the prognosis
of dyspnea may worsen, and its prevalence may
gradually increase. Although the prevalence of dyspnea
varies between 50% and 70% in cancer patients, this
rate increases to 90% in patients with lung cancer.[
It is recommended that non-pharmacologic approaches
such as hand fan application, respiratory
exercises, education, and pulmonary rehabilitation
should be used primarily in the management of dyspnea.[
There are a limited number of studies in the literature
on dyspnea management in patients with lung
cancer. In these studies, the effects of hand fan application
on dyspnea severity, pulmonary functions, vital
parameters, and quality of life are generally shown.[
In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of
the application of a hand fan to the face on comfort level, dyspnea severity, and changes in physiological
parameters in the management of dyspnea in patients
with lung cancer.
Study Setting and Sampling
The study was conducted with lung cancer patients who
received inpatient treatment at a university thoracic diseases
and surgery training and research hospital in Türkiye
between December 2022 and February 2024. According
to the power analysis for the sample size of the
study, it was determined as a total of 54 patients, 27 for
each group, with a 95% confidence interval and 5% error.
Based on the studies conducted on dyspnea management
in patients with lung cancer, the average effect size was estimated
to be 1.01. To account for potential data loss, the
sample size in both groups was increased by 10%. However,
four patients were excluded from the study sample
(one participant withdrew from the study, two were ex,
and one participant was admitted to the intensive care
unit due to deterioration). According to the randomization
list (randomizer.org) prepared by the researcher, patients
who used hand fans constituted the intervention
group (n=27) and those who received only routine care
constituted the control group (n=29) (Fig.
Individuals who were 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with lung cancer, had an mMRC dyspnea scale score ≥2, ECOG Performance Score ≥3, and volunteered to participate were included in the study. Patients who had a fever of 38.0°C or higher in the last 24 hours, were cognitively and verbally unable to communicate, had a diagnosis of psychiatric illness, underwent thoracentesis before the study, and had muscle disease were excluded.
Measurements
Medical Research Council Scale (mMRC): This
scale, which was used to determine the severity
of dyspnea in patients, was developed by Bestall et
al.[
Cancer Dyspnea Scale: It was developed by Tanaka
et al.[
Vital Signs Monitoring Form: With this form, data
on respiratory rate, oxygen saturation value, and pulse
rate were measured and recorded.
ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group)
Performance Scale: This scale, published in 1982,
is used for performance evaluation in patients with
cancer.[
General Comfort Scale-Short Form: This scale was
developed in 2006 by Kolcaba et al.[
Procedures
Intervention
Data Analysis
Ethical Consideration
Individual Descriptive Information Form: This
form, which was prepared by the researchers by reviewing
the relevant literature, consists of 15 questions
related to socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender,
education level, etc.) and clinical characteristics
(lung cancer type, disease year, cancer stage, etc.) of
cancer patients.[
In the study, face-to-face interviews were conducted
with the patients in the experimental and control
groups before the application. The purpose and rationale
of the study were explained, and informed consent
was obtained from the participants. The Individual
Identifying Information Form, Medical Research
Council Scale (mMRC), Cancer Dyspnea Scale, ECOG
(Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) Performance
Scale, General Comfort Scale Short Form, and Vital
Signs Monitoring Form were completed for the patients
in both groups. Patients in the control group received
routine care throughout the study period, and no intervention
was performed. In addition to routine care, the
intervention group received hand fan application for dyspnea management for five days. Vital signs of the
patients in the intervention group were measured and
recorded before and after hand fan application. The
Cancer Dyspnea Scale, General Comfort Scale Short
Form, and Vital Signs Follow-up Form were administered
to both groups after the study was completed.
Patients in the intervention group were first given individual
training by the researcher on the use of the hand
fan. Then, for five days, a hand fan was regularly applied
to the face twice a day (before breakfast and dinner) for
five minutes from a distance of 15 cm, especially in the
2nd and 3rd trigeminal nerve areas.[
Analysis of data obtained from the research was performed
using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences
26.0 (SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0, IBM
Corp. Armonk, NY). In the study, kurtosis and skewness
coefficients were analyzed to determine whether
the scale scores were normally distributed or not. The
kurtosis and skewness values between +1.5 and -1.5 are
considered sufficient for normal distribution.[
The study was approved by the Non-Interventional
Clinical Research Ethics Committee at a university in
Türkiye (decision no: 2022/797). Before the research
began, potential participants received both verbal and
written descriptions of the procedures and were informed
of their right to withdraw from the study. The
study procedures were conducted in accordance with
the Declaration of Helsinki.
Table
Table
Comfort is a desirable state of fulfillment, where
an individual copes positively and effectively with difficulties.
Increased patient comfort with therapeutic
interventions can enhance hope and confidence, contributing
to treatment, rehabilitation, and end-stage
care processes.[
The literature contains studies that evaluate the effectiveness
of fan therapy in managing dyspnea in cancer
patients. However, there are limited well-designed randomized controlled trials that assess the efficacy of
fan therapy and increase the level of evidence on this
subject.[
Fan therapy has been suggested as a method to reduce
dyspnea by activating dyspnea-related brain areas,
such as the insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and
amygdala through trigeminal stimulation. However, it
does not improve breathing patterns or other physiological
outcomes.[
Limitations
This study has some limitations. Firstly, it was conducted
with lung cancer patients in a single center. Secondly,
in contrast to previous studies, our investigation
of the long-term impact of fan application may have
influenced the outcome of our findings.
Ethics Committee Approval: The study was approved by the İzmir Bakırçay University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (no: 2022/797, date: 30/11/2022).
Authorship contributions: Concept - A.Ç., D.Ç.; Design - A.Ç., D.Ç., S.G., B.K.; Supervision - A.Ç.; Materials - S.G., B.K.; Data collection and/or processing - S.G., B.K.; Data analysis and/or interpretation - A.Ç.; Literature search - A.Ç., D.Ç.; Writing - A.Ç., D.Ç.; Critical review - A.Ç., D.Ç., S.G., B.K.
Conflict of Interest: All authors declared no conflict of interest.
Use of AI for Writing Assistance: No AI technologies utilized.
Financial Support: None declared.
Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.