The effects of deep breathing on 'tension-anxiety' and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. 


Author: Hayama Y, Inoue T.

Affiliation: Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Health Sciences, 1-7 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. yuka-ha@sahs.med.osaka-u.ac.jp 
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract.
Date published: 2012 May
Other:
 Volume ID: 18   ,  Issue ID: 2   ,  Pages: 94-8   ,  Word Count: 138  
    AIMS:

We investigated the effect of deep breathing intervention on 'tension-anxiety' and fatigue in Japanese women with gynaecological cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

SETTING:

A total of 23 patients were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 11) and control (n = 12) groups.

INTERVENTION:

Deep breathing was practised in the intervention group, but not in the control group. Deep breathing comprised a 10-min breathing program comprising abdominal breathing, thoracic breathing and breathing with arms raised. Using the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (Japanese version) and the Cancer Fatigue Scale, the effects were assessed pre- and post-chemotherapy.

RESULTS:

'Tension-anxiety' and fatigue of the intervention group were relieved more than those of the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The findings indicated that deep breathing intervention is likely to ameliorate the 'tension-anxiety' and fatigue in patients with gynaecological cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 22500846