title: Benefits of a holistic breathing technique in patients on hemodialysis.
abstract: Health-related quality of life and heart rate variability are often depressed in patients on hemodialysis. This pilot program used a simple holistic, self-directed breathing technique designed to improve heart rate variability, with the hypothesis that improving heart rate variability would subsequently enhance health-related quality of life. Patient self-reported benefits included reductions in anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and pain. Using holistic physiologic techniques may offer a unique and alternative tool for nurses to help increase health-related quality of life in patients on hemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Holistic Services, Central MN Heart Center, St. Cloud, MN, USA. stanleyr@centracare.com
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Leither
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sindelir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012119:Respiration