All of the patients included in the group were asked to fill in the 'Patient Identification Form' and pain assessment was performed with 'Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)'. Information was given about respiratory exercises and spirometry, which is routinely used in the postoperative period in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery in the hospital where the study was conducted. Respiratory Exercise Diary was introduced to this group and its use was demonstrated practically. They were asked to record the exercises performed in this diary. Pain assessment was performed with Visual Analogue Scale for the first 3 days after surgery. On the 1st postoperative day, this group was informed again about respiratory exercises, spirometer and its daily use, and the first exercises and records were made together with the researcher. They were asked to continue the exercises and recordings themselves for the first 3 days.

'Patient Identification Form' was filled out for all patients and pain assessment was performed with 'Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)'. Information was given about respiratory exercises and spirometry, which is routinely used in the postoperative period in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery in the hospital where the study was conducted. This group was asked to note the exercises on a piece of paper. Pain assessment was performed with Visual Analogue Scale in the first 3 days postoperatively. On the 1st postoperative day, the information about breathing exercises and recording procedures was repeated and the practices continued in the routine functioning of the clinic.

The respiratory exercise diary was prepared by reviewing the literature in order to record the time, number and frequency of respiratory exercises performed by patients with the use of a spirometer. On the first page of the diary consisting of two pages; the patient's name and surname, date of surgery, date of birth, how and how often to use the spirometer, and a pictorial information note to remind the position to be taken were included, while on the second page; the chart in which the patients would write the number of exercises they performed with the spirometer during the first three postoperative days opposite the relevant hour was included.

VAS is a very common scale used for pain assessment in daily practice and in this assessment, pain averages ranging from 0 to 10 are given on a 10 cm straight line in a horizontal or vertical plane. In the scale used to determine the pain intensity of patients, pain is graded between 0 (no pain) and 10 (unbearable pain). Accordingly, while '0' indicates no pain, an average VAS value of less than 3 indicates mild pain, 3-6 indicates mild-moderate pain, and greater than 6 indicates moderate-severe pain. VAS is an accepted scale in the world literature that visually describes pain intensity, provides ease of use and consists of a single question.