Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Hot Flashes

Purpose/Objectives: To pilot test the acceptability of a DVD platform to deliver a newly created cognitive-behavioral hot flash intervention and estimate the efficacy of the new intervention.

Design: Nonrandomized pretest, post-test design.

Setting: Midwestern and southeastern outpatient cancer clinics serving urban and rural areas.

Sample: 40 participants from two sites completed the study.

Methods: After completing preintervention assessments, participants watched a DVD of the intervention, practiced the intervention for one week, and then completed postintervention assessments. Data were collected with a brief interview, questionnaires, objective hot flash monitoring, and wrist actigraphy.

Main Research Variables: Hot flash occurrence, severity, bother, mood disturbance, affect, hot flash disruption, and sleep disturbance.

Findings: The DVD was a feasible and acceptable method for intervention delivery. Although participants expressed difficulty in applying the intervention in certain situations, they also described benefits that included shorter hot flash duration (not measured in this study). Paired t tests showed significant but minor decreases in worst hot flash severity, worst hot flash bother, mood, and disruption of daily activities.

Conclusions: The DVD was an acceptable way to deliver the intervention. However, the intervention will need to be improved before being tested in a larger study.

Implications for Nursing: A cognitive-behavioral intervention may be a useful adjunct or alternative to current hot flash treatments. Findings will be used to modify the intervention and data collection methods before undertaking a larger study.