Packel, L., Fang, C.Y., Handorf, E., & Rodoletz, M. (2017). A 12-week exercise and stress management pilot program from theory through implementation and assessment. Rehabilitation Oncology, 35, 172–180.
Study Purpose
The purpose of the study was to assess the response of an exercise, education, and stress management program (12 weeks) on fatigue levels of community-dwelling cancer survivors.
Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process
12-week program that consisted of 10 weeks of supervised moderate-intensity aerobic and strength training combined with 2 unsupervised weeks of home exercise. Supervised weeks included 1 in-person and 2 at-home sessions. Participants also received education on nutrition, stress management (mindfulness), and sleep.
Sample Characteristics
- N = 16
- MEAN AGE: 68.5 years
- MALES: 38%
- FEMALES: 62%
- CURRENT TREATMENT: Not applicable
- KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Some patients were receiving active treatment and some were in survivorship
- OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: 24% of patients had breast cancer
Setting
- SITE: Single site
- SETTING TYPE: Outpatient
- LOCATION: Philadelphia area
Phase of Care and Clinical Applications
PHASE OF CARE: Late effects and survivorship
Study Design
Single arm, pre-/post-test design
Measurement Instruments/Methods
FACT-Fatigue, HADS, NCCN Distress Thermometer, 6-Minute Walk Test, and Sit-to-Stand Test
Results
Significant improvements were noted in fatigue (p = 0.008), physical well-being (p = 0.004), and in the anxiety subscale scores of the HADS (p = 0.047). Increases in 6MWT distance (p = 0.002) and Sit-to-Stand Test score (p = 0.018) were also observed. Significant reductions in psychological distress were found (p = 0.003); however, no significant changes were observed in emotional well-being (p = 0.855), social well-being (p = 0.327), or depression (p = 0.221).
Conclusions
The program had some barriers to recruitment and retention but was able to identify a statistically significant improvement in fatigue, physical well-being, and anxiety as well as increased in the 6MWT distance and Sit-to-Stand Test score.
Limitations
- Small sample (< 30)
- Risk of bias (no control group)
- Risk of bias (no blinding)
- Risk of bias (no random assignment)
- Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
Nursing Implications
Exercise, stress management, and behavior change are moderately feasible and may have an impact on cancer-related fatigue and anxiety. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
Cobeanu, O., & David, D. (2018). Alleviation of side effects and distress in breast cancer patients by cognitive-behavioral interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 25, 335–355.
Purpose
- STUDY PURPOSE: Ascertain the effect of cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBI) in patients with breast cancer during active treatment for breast cancer; determine effect sizes on side effects of treatment, distress, and quality of life; determine moderators of effect size.
- TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
Search Strategy
- DATABASES USED: PsycINFO and MEDLINE
- YEARS INCLUDED: 1996-2012
- INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized control trial to assess the efficacy of CBI in side effect management of breast cancer during treatment. Interventions studied were started upon treatment initiation or before completion of treatment. The study must have included a control group, was in English, and publications were from a peer-reviewed journal. Paper must have sufficient data to compute an effect size
- EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies that focused on alleviation of surgical side effects; studies that investigated CBI use in physical symptoms not associated with treatment side effects.
Literature Evaluated
- TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 786
- EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Criteria applied for inclusion in meta-analysis were listed in publication. There was no method to assess the risk of bias in individual studies and no report of the quality of studies included.
Sample Characteristics
- FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED: 19
- TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: 2,220
- SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 34-303
- KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients with breast cancer receiving neo-adjuvant or adjuvant treatment.
Phase of Care and Clinical Applications
PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment
Results
Overall, results demonstrated a modest but statistically significant effect on side effect improvement (p = 0.005) with CBI. More specifically, CBI was associated with statistically significant improvements in nausea and vomiting (p < 0.001), overall distress (anxiety and depression, mood, stress, hostility) (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.001), and quality of life (p < 0.001). The review results found non-significant effects on fatigue (p = 0.63), sleep disturbance (p = 0.314), pain (p = 0.854), and depression (p = 0.063). The authors hypothesized that this lack of significance could be due to low power of analysis across the studies on fatigue, sleep, and pain, as well as lack of tailored interventions specific to those symptoms. Lack of significance for CBI on depression could be due to failure to pre-screen participants for depression prior to beginning the intervention.
Conclusions
CBI is effective in reduction of many physical and psychological distress symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, anxiety, and quality of life. Additional research are studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further validate findings. In addition, further research is needed to examine which CBI protocols are most effective for specific symptoms, as well as greater uniformity in the reporting of CBI interventions.
Limitations
- Limited number of studies included
- No quality evaluation
- High heterogeneity
- Inconsistency in reporting of intervention descriptors such as length of treatment and types of professionals administering the intervention
Nursing Implications
CBI has efficacy in improving some physical and psychological symptoms and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing active therapy. It is important for nursing to assess and advocate for patients who may benefit from CBI and facilitate access to such interventions as part of the overall treatment plan.
Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation
Cognitive rehabilitation involves behaviorally-oriented interventions designed to improve performance in cognitive and functional areas (Bray et al., 2017; Levine et al., 2000). Computerized cognitive rehabilitation is the provision of such practice via a computer program.
Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block refers to the infiltration of local anesthetics into the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles (Oh et al., 2017).
Peripheral Nerve Block
Peripheral nerve block refers to the use of local anesthetics to block peripheral nerves, which blocks the signaling of pain stimuli from the tumor to the central nervous system (Klepstad et al., 2015; Swarm, Karanikolas, & Cousins, 2000). This intervention has been studied for treatment of cancer-related pain.
Morphine and Magnesium
When opioids bind to their receptors, pain transmission is reduced (Baaklini, Arruda, & Sakata, 2017; Nechifor, 2012), but the sensitivity to pain may increase (Angst & Clark, 2006; Baaklini et al., 2017; DuPen, Shen, & Ersek, 2007). Magnesium plays a role in pain sensitivity (Baaklini et al., 2017; Célèrier et al., 2000) and has been studied in combination with opioids for cancer-related pain.
mHealth Symptom Management
mHealth symptom management refers to the use of mobile health, or mHealth, devices to help manage symptoms in patients with cancer. mHealth involves the use of devices with mobile computing capabilities to monitor, track, and transmit health data continuously and in real time (Steinhubl, Muse, & Topol, 2015).
Steinhubl, S.R., Muse, E.D., & Topol, E.J. (2015). The emerging field of mobile health. Science Translational Medicine, 7, 283rv3. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa3487
Vitamin D3 for Aromatase Inhibitor-associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms (AIMSS)
Vitamin D is involved in maintaining the collagen-rich osteoid surface of the skeleton. Low levels of vitamin D may lead to demineralization of that surface, which may contribute to pressure and pain (Felson & Cummings, 2005; Holick, 2006, 2007; Shapiro et al., 2016). The active hormone 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 promotes muscle cell growth, which may foster better muscle function (Boonen et al., 2006; Ceglia, 2008; Shapiro et al., 2016) and decreased skeletal pain (Shapiro et al. 2016).
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combines the principles of cognitive therapy with meditation practices to foster mindfulness (MBCT.com, n.d.). Mindfulness focused on mentally attending to an experience in a nonjudgmental way (Johannsen et al., 2016, Piet, Wurtzen, & Zachariae, 2012). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has been studied in several symptoms and side effects of cancer treatment, including anxiety, depression, and pain.
Cryoanalgesia
Cryoanalgesia involves the application of a cryoprobe to nerves (Ba et al., 2015; Evans, Lloyd, & Green, 1981). The cryoprobe has a bulb at its top that cools to temperatures of -50 to -80 degrees (Ba et al., 2015; Moorjani et al., 2001). It has been studied in post-surgery pain in patients with cancer.