ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer symptoms related to the disease nature and treatments develop and the quality of life of patients is impacted. Art therapy improves the quality of life by increasing symptom control and treatment compliance. This study aimed to determine the effect of art therapy on pain, emesis, anxiety, and quality of life in operated breast cancer patients. Methods: This experimental research was carried out with a total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group (IG) and 30 in the control group (CG), who received treatment in the Oncology Center of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Practice and Research Hospital. A Personal Information Form, the Pain Intensity-Visual Analog Scale, the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General (FACT-G) were used to collect research data. Within the scope of the research, IG received chemotherapy sessions for 10 weeks (five sessions) with 2-week intervals by an art specialist in marbling, accompanied by ney music. CG received no intervention. The obtained data were uploaded to the SPSS (22.0) program and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The decrease in the pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety levels of the patients in IG and the increase in their quality of life after the art therapy accompanied by ney music were statistically significant compared with the first follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the quality of life of the patients in the CG, whereas their pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety scores increased. According to the comparison between IG and CG, there was a significant difference in favor of IG in terms of pain severity, quality of life, emesis, and anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The art of marbling with ney was effective in operated breast cancer patients experiencing pain, emesis, and anxiety and improved their quality of life. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05666583.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Art Therapy , Breast Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/complications , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Quality of Life , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Vomiting/chemically induced , Vomiting/drug therapy , Nausea/chemically induced , Nausea/drug therapy , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety/therapy , PainABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic and colon cancer are among important gastrointestinal cancer diseases. Pain, fatigue, and insomnia are among the most common symptoms in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Self-acupressure may improve patients' pain, fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life, and functional well-being. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of self-acupressure application on pain, fatigue, and sleep quality in colon and pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 60 patients in treatment for pancreatic or colon cancer, 30 in the intervention and 30 in the control group, between June and October 2021. Participants in the intervention group were asked to complete 16 acupressure sessions for 4 weeks, 2 days a week in the morning and afternoon for a total of 18 minutes, depending on the preparation and pressure time on 4 pressure points. Control group participants did not receive any interventions during the study. The data were collected by using a personal information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the visual analog scale. RESULTS: After self-acupressure, the visual analog scale, Piper Fatigue Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores of the intervention group decreased when compared with the control group scores; the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Self-acupressure was effective in reducing the pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder scores of patients with colon or pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In nursing practice, self-acupressure, an applicable, accessible, and inexpensive method in the management of cancer-related symptoms, can be supported and maintained during a 4-week period.