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Research: MOLASSIOTIS and colleague
Listed in Issue 79
Abstract
MOLASSIOTIS and colleagues, University of Nottingham, School of Nursing, A Floor, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK, Alexander.Molassiotis@nottingham.ac.uk, assessed the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) as an aid to alleviating nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
Background
Methodology
This randomized, controlled clinical trial involved 71 breast cancer patients in Hong Kong who had not previously undergone chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups, an experimental group (n=38 ) and a control group (n=33 ). The experimental group underwent PMRT 1 hour before receiving chemotherapy and thereafter daily for a further 5 days (six PMRT sessions in total). PMRT sessions lasted 25 minutes and each was followed by 5 minutes of imagery techniques. All patients also received antiemetic medication. Patients were assessed on the Chinese version of the Profile of Mood States (POM) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before chemotherapy and on days 7 and 14 post chemotherapy, and on the Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Vomiting Scale daily for 7 days post chemotherapy.
Results
The duration of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the PMRT compared with the control group. There were also trends (non-significant) towards lower frequencies of nausea and vomiting. Intensities of nausea and vomiting did not differ between the two groups. Significant differences between the PMRT and control groups were mainly apparent on the first 4 days post chemotherapy . The PMRT group exhibited significantly less severe overall mood disturbance over time ; however, this was not the case for anxiety.
Conclusion
PMRT may be useful as an adjunct to antiemetic drug treatment for reducing nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy .
References
Molassiotis A et al. The effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation training in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Chinese breast cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial. Supportive Care in Cancer 10 (3): 237-46. Apr 2002.
