Pflege
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This experimental study was designed to investigate the influence of a cognitive behavioural technique on elective abdominal-surgical and orthopaedic patients at seven different time points within the first 72 postoperative hours. It examines the effect of deep breathing relaxation on the anxiety, distress, and incisional pain levels of postoperative surgical patients. The results show that the cognitive behavioural technique positively affects postoperative perception of pain, energy level, relaxed state and strain within the experimental group. ⋯ Postoperatively, patients from the experimental group in both surgical areas used more opioids than patients from the control group. Preoperatively assessed personality factors did not differ between both groups. Overall the findings suggest that the implementation of a deep breathing relaxation technique positively influences the postoperative course of elective abdominal-surgical and orthopaedic patients.