Effect of Relaxation With Guided Imagery on The Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Breast cancer patients frequently experience psychological distress during the chemotherapy period.

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of relaxation with guided imagery on patients with breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A two-group, pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental design with a randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty-five breast cancer patients from one medical center in Taiwan were enrolled in the study. These patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 32) or to the control group (n = 33). Both groups received chemotherapy self-care education, but the experimental group also received relaxation with guided imagery training. The training on relaxation with guided imagery was conducted before chemotherapy, and the patients were supplied with a compact disc detailing the performance of relaxation with guided imagery for 20 minutes daily at home for 7 days after chemotherapy.

RESULTS:

The experimental group showed significant decreases in insomnia (-0.34 ± 0.83, P < 0.05), pain (-0.28 ± 0.58, P < 0.05), anxiety (-3.56 ± 2.94, P < 0.00), and depression (-2.38 ± 2.70, P < 0.00) between the pretest and the posttest. Comparing the two groups, statistically significant differences were found in the overall symptom distress (B = 0.11, P < 0.05), insomnia (B = 0.50, P <0.05), depression (B = 0.38, P < 0.05), and numbness in physical symptoms (B = 0.38, P < 0.05), as well as in anxiety (B = 3.08, P < 0.00) and depression (B = 1.86, P < 0.00) in psychological distress. One week of relaxation with guided imagery can significantly improve the overall symptoms of distress, insomnia, depression, physical symptoms, and anxiety, and can decrease psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS:

Relaxation with guided imagery had a positive effect on mediating anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients.

• Authors: Shu-Fen Chen, Hsiu-Ho Wang, Hsing-Yu Yang, Ue-Lin Chung
• Journal: Iranian Red Crescent medical journal (Iran Red Crescent Med J) Vol. 17 Issue 11 Pg. e31277 (Nov 2015) ISSN: 2074-1804 [Print] Estonia
• PMID: 26734485 (Publication Type: Journal Article)