Postoperative Pulmonary ComplicationsTEACH-BREATHENCT07350616
The Effect of the 5T Teach-Back Method on Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Training
A study testing 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Education and Standard Verbal Respiratory Education in people with Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Atelectasis, run by Suleyman Demirel University.
Trial summary
Breathing problems after surgery are common and can lead to serious complications such as low oxygen levels, lung collapse, or pulmonary embolism. These problems increase patient risk and place an additional burden on the healthcare system. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Pulmonary Complications, Atelectasis, Patient Education
- What is being tested?
- 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Education and Standard Verbal Respiratory Education
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 76 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 15 Jan 2026to 15 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Scheduled for abdominal surgery under general anesthesia
- Postoperative use of respiratory exercises and incentive spirometry is recommended
- Expected postoperative hospital stay of more than 3 days
- Able to read and write and able to communicate effectively
- Conscious, cooperative, and oriented
- Willing to participate voluntarily and able to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Severe neurological or cognitive impairment
- Unstable vital signs or hemodynamic instability
- Anticipated or required postoperative intensive care unit admission
- Severe pain that prevents participation in education or assessments
- Visual or communication impairments that limit participation in education
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of the 5T Teach-Back Method in Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Training on Knowledge Level, Practical Skills, Respiratory Parameters, and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Study
Breathing problems after surgery are common and can lead to serious complications such as low oxygen levels, lung collapse, or pulmonary embolism. These problems increase patient risk and place an additional burden on the healthcare system. Breathing exercises and incentive spirometer use are important methods to prevent these complications. However, many patients have difficulty understanding and correctly performing these exercises when education is limited to standard verbal instructions. This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate whether the 5T Teach-Back education method improves patients' understanding, practical skills, respiratory outcomes, and satisfaction compared with standard verbal education. The study will be conducted in a university hospital and will include 76 adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Patients in the intervention group will receive preoperative breathing exercise and incentive spirometer training using the 5T Teach-Back method, which encourages patients to explain the information back in their own words and repeat the skills until they are correctly understood. Patients in the control group will receive routine verbal education provided by clinical nurses. Outcomes will be measured before surgery and again within 24-72 hours after surgery. These outcomes include patients' knowledge level, correct performance of breathing exercises and spirometer use, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, lung function test results, and patient satisfaction with nursing care. The results of this study are expected to show whether the 5T Teach-Back method is more effective than standard education in improving postoperative respiratory care and patient satisfaction. The findings may help standardize patient education practices and support nurses in delivering more effective respiratory training before surgery.
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pulmonary Complications, Atelectasis, Patient Education, Respiratory Exercises, Incentive Spirometry
- Being tested
- 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Education, Standard Verbal Respiratory Education
- Medical subject headings
- Pulmonary Atelectasis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer EducationBehavioural
This intervention involves preoperative respiratory exercise and incentive spirometer education delivered using the structured 5T Teach-Back method. Education is provided individually by a trained nurse and includes demonstration, patient return demonstration, and repeated instruction until correct understanding and performance are achieved. The five steps of the 5T Teach-Back approach (Triage, Tools, Take Responsibility, Tell Me, and Try Again) are systematically applied to ensure patient comprehension and skill mastery. Sessions last approximately 20-30 minutes and are completed before surgery. Unlike routine verbal education, this intervention actively engages patients in explaining and performing the exercises in their own words, allowing immediate correction of misunderstandings and reinforcing correct technique
Standard Verbal Respiratory EducationBehavioural
This intervention consists of routine verbal education on respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use provided by clinical nurses as part of standard preoperative care. Education is delivered according to usual clinical practice without a structured teaching framework, return demonstration, or formal assessment of patient understanding. No standardized duration, repetition, or feedback process is applied. This intervention reflects typical routine care and differs from structured educational approaches by relying solely on conventional verbal instruction.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 5T Teach-Back Education Group | Experimental | Participants receive preoperative respiratory exercise and incentive spirometer training using the 5T Teach-Back method. Receives: Behavioral: 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Education |
| Standard Education Group | Active comparator | Participants receive routine verbal education on respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use provided by clinical nurses. Receives: Behavioral: Standard Verbal Respiratory Education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Knowledge and Correct Performance of Respiratory Exercises and Incentive Spirometer Use
Patient knowledge and correct performance of respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use will be assessed using a structured knowledge test and observation-based checklists. Knowledge level will be evaluated with a short multiple-item test, and performance accuracy will be assessed by direct observation of breathing exercises and incentive spirometer use. Higher scores indicate better understanding and correct application of the techniques.
Measured: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Secondary outcomes (4)
Pulmonary Function Test
Pulmonary function will be assessed postoperatively using spirometry. The primary parameter will be the FEV1/FVC ratio (%), where higher values indicate better pulmonary function.
Measured: 24-72 hours postoperatively
Patient Satisfaction
Patient satisfaction will be assessed using the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS). The NSNS was originally developed by Thomas et al. (1996) to evaluate patients' experiences and satisfaction with nursing care and was adapted and validated in Turkish by Akın and Erdoğan (2007). The scale consists of 19 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Item scores are summed and transformed to yield a total satisfaction score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with nursing care, with a score of 100 representing the highest possible level of satisfaction.
Measured: 24-72 hours postoperatively
Respiratory Parameter (SpO₂)
Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂, %) will be measured pulse oximetry. Changes between baseline (preoperative) and postoperative assessment will be compared between study group
Measured: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Respiratory Rate
Respiratory rate (breaths/min) will be measured using routine clinical assessment. Changes between baseline (preoperative period) and postoperative assessment will be compared between study groups.
Measured: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jan 2026
- Study start15 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Postoperative Pulmonary ComplicationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 76 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Suleyman Demirel University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cigdem Erdem, Suleyman Demirel University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07350616
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 973-973-11
- Acronym
- TEACH-BREATHE
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Wang J, Hu H, Sun J, Zhang Q, Chen Z, Wang Q, Zhu M, Yao J, Yuan H, Zhang X. The effectiveness of health education based on the 5Ts for teach-back on oral nutritional supplements compliance of post-discharge patients after surgery for gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Feb 11;31(3):157. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07581-1.
PubMed 36773116Anderson KM, Leister S, De Rego R. The 5Ts for Teach Back: An Operational Definition for Teach-Back Training. Health Lit Res Pract. 2020 Apr 9;4(2):e94-e103. doi: 10.3928/24748307-20200318-01.
PubMed 32293689
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of the 5T Teach-Back Method in Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Training on Knowledge Level, Practical Skills, Respiratory Parameters, and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07350616
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TEACH-BREATHE / 973-973-11
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pulmonary Complications, Atelectasis, Patient Education, Respiratory Exercises, Incentive Spirometry
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 76 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Suleyman Demirel UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Breathing problems after surgery are common and can lead to serious complications such as low oxygen levels, lung collapse, or pulmonary embolism. These problems increase patient risk and place an additional burden on the healthcare system. Breathing exercises and incentive spirometer use are important methods to prevent these complications. However, many patients have difficulty understanding and correctly performing these exercises when education is limited to standard verbal instructions. This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate whether the 5T Teach-Back education method improves patients' understanding, practical skills, respiratory outcomes, and satisfaction compared with standard verbal education. The study will be conducted in a university hospital and will include 76 adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
Patients in the intervention group will receive preoperative breathing exercise and incentive spirometer training using the 5T Teach-Back method, which encourages patients to explain the information back in their own words and repeat the skills until they are correctly understood. Patients in the control group will receive routine verbal education provided by clinical nurses. Outcomes will be measured before surgery and again within 24-72 hours after surgery. These outcomes include patients' knowledge level, correct performance of breathing exercises and spirometer use, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, lung function test results, and patient satisfaction with nursing care. The results of this study are expected to show whether the 5T Teach-Back method is more effective than standard education in improving postoperative respiratory care and patient satisfaction. The findings may help standardize patient education practices and support nurses in delivering more effective respiratory training before surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 5T Teach-Back Education Group | Experimental | Behavioral: 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer EducationParticipants receive preoperative respiratory exercise and incentive spirometer training using the 5T Teach-Back method. |
| Standard Education Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Standard Verbal Respiratory EducationParticipants receive routine verbal education on respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use provided by clinical nurses. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Scheduled for abdominal surgery under general anesthesia
- Postoperative use of respiratory exercises and incentive spirometry is recommended
- Expected postoperative hospital stay of more than 3 days
- Able to read and write and able to communicate effectively
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Severe neurological or cognitive impairment
- Unstable vital signs or hemodynamic instability
- Anticipated or required postoperative intensive care unit admission
- Severe pain that prevents participation in education or assessments
- Visual or communication impairments that limit participation in education
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer EducationThis intervention involves preoperative respiratory exercise and incentive spirometer education delivered using the structured 5T Teach-Back method. Education is provided individually by a trained nurse and includes demonstration, patient return demonstration, and repeated instruction until correct understanding and performance are achieved. The five steps of the 5T Teach-Back approach (Triage, Tools, Take Responsibility, Tell Me, and Try Again) are systematically applied to ensure patient comprehension and skill mastery. Sessions last approximately 20-30 minutes and are completed before surgery. Unlike routine verbal education, this intervention actively engages patients in explaining and performing the exercises in their own words, allowing immediate correction of misunderstandings and reinforcing correct technique | Behavioural | 5T Teach-Back Education Group |
| Standard Verbal Respiratory EducationThis intervention consists of routine verbal education on respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use provided by clinical nurses as part of standard preoperative care. Education is delivered according to usual clinical practice without a structured teaching framework, return demonstration, or formal assessment of patient understanding. No standardized duration, repetition, or feedback process is applied. This intervention reflects typical routine care and differs from structured educational approaches by relying solely on conventional verbal instruction. | Behavioural | Standard Education Group |
Primary outcome
Patient Knowledge and Correct Performance of Respiratory Exercises and Incentive Spirometer Use
Time frame: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Patient knowledge and correct performance of respiratory exercises and incentive spirometer use will be assessed using a structured knowledge test and observation-based checklists. Knowledge level will be evaluated with a short multiple-item test, and performance accuracy will be assessed by direct observation of breathing exercises and incentive spirometer use. Higher scores indicate better understanding and correct application of the techniques.
4 secondary outcomes
Pulmonary Function Test
Time frame: 24-72 hours postoperatively
Patient Satisfaction
Time frame: 24-72 hours postoperatively
Respiratory Parameter (SpO₂)
Time frame: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Respiratory Rate
Time frame: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 36773116Wang J, Hu H, Sun J, Zhang Q, Chen Z, Wang Q, Zhu M, Yao J, Yuan H, Zhang X. The effectiveness of health education based on the 5Ts for teach-back on oral nutritional supplements compliance of post-discharge patients after surgery for gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Feb 11;31(3):157. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07581-1.
- Background: PubMed 32293689Anderson KM, Leister S, De Rego R. The 5Ts for Teach Back: An Operational Definition for Teach-Back Training. Health Lit Res Pract. 2020 Apr 9;4(2):e94-e103. doi: 10.3928/24748307-20200318-01.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 5T Teach-Back-Based Respiratory Exercise and Incentive Spirometer Education and Standard Verbal Respiratory Education in people with Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Atelectasis, run by Suleyman Demirel University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Cigdem Erdem, Assistant Professor (+095075011397, cgdmctn07@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Knowledge and Correct Performance of Respiratory Exercises and Incentive Spirometer Use (time frame: From baseline (preoperative period) to 24-72 hours postoperatively). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07350616, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jan 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.