The Effect of Breathing Exercises and Sleep Hygiene Instructions on Insomnia and Pain in Patients with Burn Injuries

Background: Insomnia and pain are the most commonly reported problems after burn injuries. Poor sleeping and pain can be extremely distressing and debilitating, and actually interfere with recovery from a burn injury. Aim: This study was intended to evaluate the effect of breathing exercises and sleep hygiene instructions on insomnia and pain in patients with burn injuries. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. A convenience sample of 60 male and female adults who were admitted to the burn unit in one of the biggest teaching hospitals in Cairo were recruited and randomly allocated to a control and intervention group. One questionnaire and four scales were utilized to collect the data: (1) Background data sheet, (2) The Behavioral Relaxation Scale (BRS), (3) Self-rating relaxation scale, (4) Visual Analogue Scale for assessing pain and fatigue and (5) Insomnia Severity Index. The patients were followed for three days. Results: The intervention group achieved a significantly higher reduction in the mean pain intensity score (p = 0.037), decreased insomnia (p = 0.001) and increased relaxation level (p = 0.000) after the intervention compared to the control group. Fatigue was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.069). Conclusions and recommendations: breathing exercises and sleep hygiene instructions could reduce pain and insomnia in patients with burn injuries. Thus, breathing exercises and sleep hygiene instructions must be endorsed as a nursing role for patients with burn injuries in the early course of the disease, so that the patients experience the maximum benefit. Keywords: burn, sleep hygiene instructions, insomnia, breathing exercises, pai