Relaxation training as an integral part of caring activities for cancer patients: effects on wellbeing

Abstract

The purposes of this study were twofold. The first was to investigate if relaxation training conducted by nurses as an integral part of their caring activities affected breast cancer patients' experiences of radiotherapy sessions as well as their general wellbeing. Second was to evaluate a pedagogical model for large scale application of relaxation training as an integral part of caring. The sample consisted of 64 consecutive outpatients with breast cancer at a Swedish oncology clinic, receiving their first radiotherapy treatment course following surgery. Every second patient was assigned to an experimental group (n = 32, mean age: 59.5 years) and every other second patient was assigned to a control group (n = 32, mean age: 60.0 years). The programme resulted in the following general effects: fewer perceived daily hassles and a more cheerful overall mood state. The following treatment situation specific effects were noted: programme participants appraised the treatment sessions as successively more benign-positive and less threatening. They also reported more perceived muscular tensions during treatment sessions. Most goals concerning the routinization of the pedagogical model were reached.