The Impact of Fan Application on the Comfort Levels of Patients with Lung Cancer in Managing Dyspnea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was 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. 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.