The effects of progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation on fatigue, coping styles, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant paclitaxel regimen: An assessor blinded, three-arm randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to examine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on fatigue, coping styles and quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant paclitaxel regimen. Methods Participants (stages 1-3) were randomly assigned to either a 12-week (PMR) (n = 31), MBSR (n = 32) interventions or control group (CG) (n = 29). Participants in the intervention groups were instructed on PMR and MBSR, the steps of interventions were recorded a voice recorder, and were asked to listen the recorded audio files during exercises. Participants in the intervention groups continued PMR or MBSR 20 min. each day, totally 12 weeks at their home. The CG received only a single time attention placebo education (15 min.) on breast cancer before paclitaxel regimen. No intervention was applied to neither the interventions nor the control group until the follow-up assessment (week 14). Data collection tools included Patient Information Form, Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Brief COPE, and the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC). The data were collected at three time points including at baseline, week 12, and week 14. To analyze data repeated measures ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests were used. Results The BFI scores were significantly decreased in the MBSR, PMR groups when compared with the CG at week 12 and week 14 (p .05). Conclusions A brief, PMR and MBSR are simple and effective nursing interventions, initiated concurrently with adjuvant paclitaxel regimen that can be used to manage fatigue, and improve coping styles in patients with breast cancer. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Hacettepe University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (project THD-2018-17089). Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.