scholarly journals The Effect of Therapeutic Touch on Pain and Fatigue of Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Aghabati ◽  
Eesa Mohammadi ◽  
Zahra Pour Esmaiel

Despite major advances in pain management, cancer pain is managed poorly in 80% of the patients with cancer. Due to deleterious side effects of pharmacology therapy in these people, there is an urgent need for clinical trials of non-pharmacological interventions. To examine the effect of therapeutic touch (TT) on the pain and fatigue of the cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, a randomized and three-groups experimental study—experimental (TT), placebo (placebo TT), and control (usual care)—was carried out. Ninety patients undergoing chemotherapy, exhibiting pain and fatigue of cancer, were randomized into one of the three groups in the Cancer Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Pain and fatigue were measured and recorded by participants before and after the intervention for 5 days (once a day). The intervention consisted of 30 min TT given once a day for 5 days between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain and the Rhoten Fatigue Scale (RFS) were completed for 5 days before and after the intervention by the subjects. The TT (significant) was more effective in decreasing pain and fatigue of the cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy than the usual care group, while the placebo group indicated a decreasing trend in pain and fatigue scores compared with the usual care group.

Author(s):  
Simin Jahani ◽  
Fatemeh Salari ◽  
Nasrin Elahi ◽  
Bahman Cheraghian

Objective: Findings suggest dissatisfaction of half of the cancer patients regarding pain and anxiety management. This study aimed to determine the effect of reflexology on the intensity of pain and anxiety among patients with metastatic cancer hospitalized inadulthematology ward.  Methods: In this study, the samples were selected from adult hematology ward in Baghaei 2 hospital in Ahwaz, Iran, according to the inclusion criteria. They were then assigned into treatment and control groups. In the treatment group, reflexology protocol was performed following manual reflexology method by Fr Josef Eugster based on Ingham method on the patient’s bed. In the control group, sole touching was used as the placebo. Reflexology was performed for three days, 30 min per day. Spielberger questionnaire were provided to the samples and completed in the first and third days, and Spielberger questionnaire was provided to the samples and completed. The data obtained from this study were then analyzed by SPSS 20.Results: The two groups did not show a significant difference in terms of demographic characteristics (p>0.05). Based on the obtained results, it was found that in the test group, there was a significant difference between the mean intensity of pain before and after the treatment across all 3 days as well as the mean anxiety of the 1st and 3rd days (p<0.05). However, in the control group, there was no significant difference in terms of mean pain intensity before and after the treatment across 3 days (p>0.05). No significant difference was observed between the mean anxiety of the 1st and 3rd days either (p>0.05).Conclusion: Considering the findings of this research, it can be concluded that reflexology has a positive effect on mitigating the intensity of pain and anxiety in metastatic cancer patients. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses employed in cancer centers benefit from the findings of this research to further help patients with cancer. It is also suggested that further research be conducted on the effect of reflexology on the pain and anxiety of other patients.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikyung Kim ◽  
Jung-Eun Kim ◽  
Hye-Yoon Lee ◽  
Ae-Ran Kim ◽  
Hyo-Ju Park ◽  
...  

IntroductionAlthough insomnia is one of the most prevalent and disturbing symptoms among patients with cancer, it has not been properly managed. Electroacupuncture (EA) has received attention as a promising intervention for insomnia, and a few previous studies have reported that this intervention may be beneficial for treating insomnia in patients with cancer. The aim of this pilot study is to explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of EA on the sleep disturbance of patients with cancer with insomnia using a subjective method, patient-reported questionnaires and an objective tool, actigraphy, to measure the quality of sleep.Methods and analysisThis is a study protocol for a randomised, three-arm, multicentre, pilot clinical trial. A total of 45 patients with cancer who have continuous insomnia related to cancer treatment or cancer itself will be randomly allocated to an EA group, sham EA group or usual care group in equal proportions. The EA group will receive 10 sessions of EA treatment over 4 weeks. The sham EA group will receive sham EA at non-acupoints using non-penetrating Streitberger acupuncture needles with mock EA. The usual care group will not receive EA treatment. All participants will be provided a brochure on the management of sleep disorders regardless of their group assignment. The primary outcome measure is the mean change in the insomnia severity index from the baseline to week 5. Information related to sleep quality will also be obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a sleep diary and actigraphy. Participants will complete the trial by visiting the research centre at week 9 for follow-up assessment.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol was approved by the institutional review boards of each research centre. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The result of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences.Trial registration numberKCT0002162; Pre-results.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (15) ◽  
pp. 2565-2570 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Pfister ◽  
Barrie R. Cassileth ◽  
Gary E. Deng ◽  
K. Simon Yeung ◽  
Jennifer S. Lee ◽  
...  

Purpose To determine whether acupuncture reduces pain and dysfunction in patients with cancer with a history of neck dissection. The secondary objective is to determine whether acupuncture relieves dry mouth in this population. Patients and Methods Patients at a tertiary cancer center with chronic pain or dysfunction attributed to neck dissection were randomly assigned to weekly acupuncture versus usual care (eg, physical therapy, analgesia, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs, per patient preference or physician recommendation) for 4 weeks. The Constant-Murley score, a composite measure of pain, function, and activities of daily living, was the primary outcome measure. Xerostomia, a secondary end point, was assessed using the Xerostomia Inventory. Results Fifty-eight evaluable patients were accrued and randomly assigned from 2004 to 2007 (28 and 30 patients on acupuncture and control arms, respectively). Constant-Murley scores improved more in the acupuncture group (adjusted difference between groups = 11.2; 95% CI, 3.0 to 19.3; P = .008). Acupuncture produced greater improvement in reported xerostomia (adjusted difference in Xerostomia Inventory = –5.8; 95% CI, –0.9 to –10.7; P = .02). Conclusion Significant reductions in pain, dysfunction, and xerostomia were observed in patients receiving acupuncture versus usual care. Although further study is needed, these data support the potential role of acupuncture in addressing post–neck dissection pain and dysfunction, as well as xerostomia.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20523-e20523 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Basen-Engquist ◽  
H. Y. Perkins ◽  
C. L. Carmack Taylor ◽  
D. C. Hughes ◽  
J. L. Jovanovic ◽  
...  

e20523 Background: Weight gain is common in women with breast cancer and is worrisome, as may affect prognosis and risk of other chronic diseases. This randomized study pilot tested a weight gain prevention intervention for breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were randomized to a weight gain prevention intervention or a usual care control arm. The intervention used a body acceptance approach, which emphasized changes in diet (low energy density food) and exercise behavior (resistance training) rather than focusing on weight loss. It was administered in weekly sessions delivered in-person and by telephone. Assessments were done at baseline, mid-chemotherapy, pre-surgery, after surgical recovery, after a 9 week post-surgical booster intervention, and 6 months after surgery. The data on weight changes from baseline (T0) to mid-chemotherapy (T1) and presurgery (T2) is presented. Results: 33 participants were randomized the intervention (n=16) or usual care (n=17). Three control participants withdrew before assessments were done. Of the 30 remaining women, 70% had stage II and 30% had stage III breast cancer. Their mean age was 49.7 (SD=12.2), and half were premenopausal. Mean BMI was 29.3 (SD=6.1) and 70% were physically inactive. The sample was diverse with regard to self-reported ethnicity (57% white, 27% African-American, 7% Hispanic, 10% other). Change in weight from T0 to T1 was -0.9 kg in the intervention group and +1.4 kg in the usual care group (n=27, p=0.126); from T0 to T2 the change was -2.0 kg in the intervention group and +0.8 kg in the usual care group (n=20, p=0.056). When weights from a chart review were used for patients with missing assessments the T0 to T2 changes were -2.9 kg for the intervention group and 0 kg for the usual care group (n=30, p=0.065). Conclusions: Based on a preliminary analysis, there was a trend approaching statistical significance for weight loss from a diet and exercise intervention based on the body acceptance approach compared to a usual care control group. These results indicate this intervention should be tested in a larger randomized controlled trial. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204062232096159
Author(s):  
Lanlan Pang ◽  
Zefu Liu ◽  
Sheng Lin ◽  
Zhidong Liu ◽  
Hengyu Liu ◽  
...  

Background and aims: Lung cancer patients suffer from deterioration in their physical and psychological function, which exerts a negative influence on their quality of life (QOL). Telemedicine has been proven to be an effective intervention for patients with several chronic diseases. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy of telemedicine in improving QOL in lung cancer patients. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of telemedicine in lung cancer patients. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.1 were used to perform data analysis. Results: Our meta-analysis included eight clinical trials with a total of 635 lung cancer patients. The results showed that the telemedicine group had significantly higher QOL than the usual care group [standard mean difference (SMD) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29–1.63, I2 = 91%]. In addition, the telemedicine group had lower anxiety (SMD −0.44, 95% CI −0.66 to −0.23, I2 = 3%) and depression scores (SMD −0.48, 95% CI −0.91 to −0.05, I2 = 66%) than the usual care group. However, no significant differences were found in fatigue and pain outcomes between the two groups. Conclusion: Telemedicine may be an effective method of improving QOL in lung cancer patients and the further development and use of telemedicine care is recommended.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyungmi Yang ◽  
Dongryul Oh ◽  
Jae Myoung Noh ◽  
Han Gyul Yoon ◽  
Jong-Mu Sun ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Excessive muscle loss is an important prognostic factor in esophageal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) as reported in our previous research. OBJECTIVE We prospectively tested the effectiveness of a health coaching mobile application in preventing malnutrition and muscle loss in this patient population. METHODS Between July 2019 and May 2020, we enrolled 38 male patients with esophageal cancer scheduled for NACRT. For 8 weeks from the start of radiotherapy (RT), the patients used a health coaching mobile application, the Noom®, that interactively provided online advice about food intake, exercise, and weight changes. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) measured on computed tomography, and nutrition-related laboratory markers were assessed before and after RT. We evaluated the changes of SMI, nutritional and inflammatory factors between the patients who used a mobile application (Noom group) and our previous study cohort (usual care group). Additionally, we analyzed the factors associated with walk steps recorded in the application. RESULTS Two patients dropped out of the study (no application use [n=1]; treatment changed to a definitive aim [n=1]). The use (or activation) of the application was noted in approximately 70% of patients (36 patients) until the end of the trial. Compared to the 1:2 matched usual care group by propensity scores balanced with age, primary tumor location, tumor stage, pre-RT body mass index, and pre-RT SMI level, 30 operable patients showed less aggravation of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (-6.7 vs. -9.8, P=.04). However, there was no significant difference in the SMI change or the number of patients with excessive muscle loss (∆SMI/50 days > 10%). In patients with excessive muscle loss, walk steps significantly decreased in the last four weeks compared to those in the first four weeks. Age affected the absolute number of walk steps (P=.01), while pre-RT sarcopenia was related to the recovery of reduced walk steps (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS For esophageal cancer patients receiving NACRT, an interactive health coaching mobile application helped nutritional self-care with less decrease in PNI, although it did not prevent excessive muscle loss. Low physical activity estimated by the number of walking steps did not recover even a few weeks after the end of NACRT in patients with old age or pretreatment sarcopenia. An individualized care model with proper exercise as well as nutritional support may be required to reduce muscle loss and malnutrition.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 855.1-855
Author(s):  
E. Van Delft ◽  
K. H. Han ◽  
J. Hazes ◽  
D. Lopes Barreto ◽  
A. Weel

Background:Western countries experience an increasing demand for care, particularly for inflammatory arthritis (IA), while the healthcare budget decreases1. The innovative value-based primary care strategy2includes integrated care networks, where primary and secondary care bundle their expertise to improve patient value by providing the right care at the right place.General practitioners (GPs) have difficulties recognising IA, leading up to only 20% IA diagnoses of all newly referred arthralgia patients. However, since IA needs to be treated as early as possible to overcome progression, it is worthwhile to analyse whether integrated care networks have an impact on patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Triage by a rheumatologist in a primary care setting is one of the most promising integrated care networks for efficient referrals3.Objectives:To assess the effect of triage by a rheumatologist in a primary care setting in patients suspect for inflammatory arthritis.Methods:The present study follows a cluster randomized controlled trial design. The intervention, triage by a rheumatologist in a local primary care centre, will be compared to usual care. Usual care means that patients are referred to a rheumatology outpatient clinic based on the opinion of the general practitioner.The primary outcome is the frequency of IA diagnoses assessed by a rheumatologist. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs (EQ-5D)) and costs (work productivity (iPCQ) and healthcare utilization (iMCQ)) were determined at baseline, after three, six and twelve months. The target was to include 267 patients for each study group (power level 0.8). Since this study is still ongoing we can only show first results on the efficiency of referrals.Results:In the period between February 2017 and December 2019 a total of 543 participants were included; 275 in the usual care group and 268 in the triage group. Mean age (51.3 ± 14.6 years) and percentage of men (23.6%) were comparable between groups (page=0.139; psex=0.330).The preliminary data show that the number of referred patients in the triage group is n=28 (10.5%) (Fig. 1). 32 patients (11.9%) were not referred directly but advice was given for additional diagnostics. Since all patients in the usual care group were referred there is a decrease of at least 77.6% in referrals when rheumatologists are participating in the integrated practice units.Preliminary data on diagnosis are available for all referred patients in the triage group and for n=137 (49.8%) in the usual care group at this point. In the triage group n=18 (64.2%) of referred patients were diagnosed with IA (6.7% of the total study population). In the usual care group this was n=52 (38.0%) of the patients yet diagnosed.Conclusion:These preliminary results of an integrated care network are promising. Approximately three-quarters of all patients can be withheld from expensive outpatient care. PROMs data and cost-effectiveness analysis will give clear answers in order to provide evidence whether this integrated care network can be implemented as a standard of care.References:[1] Rijksoverheid. (2018). Bestuurlijk akkoord medisch-specialistische zorg 2019 t/m 2022.https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/.[2] Porter ME, Pabo EA, Lee TH. (2013). Redesigning Primary Care: a strategic vision to improve value by organizing around patients’ needs. Health affairs, 32(3);516-525[3] Akbari A, et al. (2008). Interventions to improve outpatient referrals from primary care to secondary care. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 4,CD005471.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 618
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Ohbe ◽  
Kensuke Nakamura ◽  
Kazuaki Uda ◽  
Hiroki Matsui ◽  
Hideo Yasunaga

It is unclear when to begin rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database from 2010 to 2018, we identified adult patients who underwent a CABG and who were admitted to the ICU for ≥3 consecutive days from the date of their CABG. Patients who started any rehabilitation program prescribed by physicians or therapists within 3 days of CABG were defined as the early rehabilitation group, and the remaining patients were defined as the usual care group. We identified 30,568 eligible patients, with 13,150 (43%) patients in the early rehabilitation group. An inverse probability of treatment weighting analyses showed that the Barthel Index score at discharge in the early rehabilitation group was significantly higher than that in the usual care group (difference: 3.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.5–4.8). The early rehabilitation group had significantly lower in-hospital mortality, total hospitalization costs, length of ICU stay, and hospital stay vs. the usual care group. Our results suggested that early rehabilitation by physicians or therapists beginning within 3 days of CABG was safe, as suggested by the low mortality and improved physical function in patients who underwent CABG.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiaki Ura ◽  
Tsuyoshi Okamura ◽  
Sachiko Yamazaki ◽  
Masaya Shimmei ◽  
Keisuke Torishima ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Green care farms, which offer care for people with dementia in a farm setting, have been emerging in the Netherlands. The aim of this study was to 1) implement green care farms which use rice farming in Japan, 2) explore the positive experiences of rice farming care, and 3) compare the effect of rice farming care to that of usual care on well-being and cognitive ability. Methods We developed a new method of green care farm in Japan which uses rice farming, a farming that is practiced all over East Asia. The participants were 15 people with dementia (mean age = 75.6 ± 9.8 years) who participated in a one-hour rice farming care program once a week for 25 weeks. We also collected qualitative data on the positive experiences of study participants after the program. As a reference data, we also collected the corresponding data of the usual care group which included 14 people with dementia (mean age = 79.9 ± 5.8 years) who were attending the near-by day-care. Results The mean participation rate on the rice farming care group was 72.1%. After the intervention, participants reported experiencing enjoyment and connection during the program. It also changed the staff’s view on dementia. The green care farm group showed a significant improvement in well-being but no significant difference in cognitive function compared to the usual care group. Conclusions Green care farms by using rice farming is promising care method which is evidence-based, empowerment-oriented, strengths-based, community-based dementia service, which also delivers meaningful experience for the people with dementia in East Asia. Trial registration UMIN, UMIN000025020, Registered 1 April 2017.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Greenstein ◽  
Robert Topp ◽  
Jena Etnoyer-Slaski ◽  
Michael Staelgraeve ◽  
John McNulty ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Adhering to prescribed medical interventions predicts the efficacy of the treatment. In the physical health clinics, not adhering to prescribed therapy can take the form of not attending a scheduled clinic visit (no-show appointment) or prematurely terminating treatment against the advice of the provider (self-discharge). A variety of interventions, including mobile phone apps have been introduced with patients to increase their adherence with attending scheduled clinic visits. Limited research has examined the impact of a mobile phone app among patients attending a chiropractic and rehabilitation clinic visits. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare adherence with prescribed physical health treatment among patients attending a chiropractic and rehabilitation clinic who did and did not choose to adopt a phone-based app to complement their treatment. METHODS The medical records of new patients who presented for care during 2019 and 2020 at five community-based chiropractic and rehabilitation clinics were reviewed for the number of kept and no-show appointments and if the patient was provider discharged or self-discharged. During this 24-month study 36.3% of the 4,126 patients seen in the targeted clinics had downloaded the Kanvas App to their mobile phone while the remaining patients chose not to download the app (Usual Care Group). The gamification component of the Kanvas app provided the patient with a point every time they attended their visits which could be redeemed for an incentive. RESULTS During both 2019 and 2020 respectively the Kanvas App Group (50%-38%) were provider discharged at a greater rate than the Usual-Care group (47-31%). The Kanvas App Group kept a similar number of appointments compared to the Usual-Care Group in 2019 (10.20 vs. 8.68) but kept significantly more appointments than the Usual-Care Group in 2020 (11.63 vs. 7.67). During 2019 both groups exhibited a similar number of no-show appointments (1.89 vs 1.96) but in 2020 the Kanvas App Group demonstrated more no-show appointments (2.89 vs 2.14) than the Usual Care. When collapsed across years and self discharged the Kanvas App group had a greater number of kept appointments (7.79) compared to the Usual Care group (4.58). When provider discharged both groups exhibited a similar number of kept appointments (15.25 vs 13.82). The Kanvas App group (1.38) and the Usual Care group (1.34) were similar in the number of no-show appointments when provider discharged and when self-discharged the Kanvas App Group had more no-show appointments (3.37) compared to the Usual Care Group (2.44). CONCLUSIONS When patients were provider discharged, they exhibited a similar number of kept appointments and no-show appointment. When subjects were self-discharged and received the Kanvas App they exhibited 3.2 more kept appointments and .94 more no-show appointments than self-discharged Usual Care group.


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