Effect of the solution-focused brief therapy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients under adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized trial

The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy in cancer-related symptom management: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Solution-focused therapy (SFT) as a psychoeducational support intervention has gained an increasing attention for alleviating complications associated with cancer. The aim of this review was to integrate and synthesize scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of SFT in the management of cancer-related symptoms.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted, encompassing the exploration of five online databases-Web of Science, PubMed (including MEDLINE), CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. Articles published from inception to December 2023 were retrieved. The review included all clinical trials and similar interventional studies assessing the impact of SFT on cancer-related symptoms. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies following quality appraisals using appropriate methodological tools. The review results were presented in a narrative format due to the impossibility of conducting a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 239 studies were identified during the search process, of which eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The overall sample size comprised 555 patients with cancer that were mostly female (n = 386). Four studies employed randomized controlled trials (RCT), while the remaining four utilized the non-RCT method. SFT-based interventions demonstrated effectiveness in addressing stress, anxiety, depression, somatization, cancer-related fatigue, pain catastrophizing, and negative coping. Additionally, they improved psychological well-being, hope, positive coping, self-efficacy, quality of life, and sexual quality of life among cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Various SFT-based interventions have been shown to be effective in managing cancer-related symptoms and can be considered valuable additions to routine care, complementing medication therapy and other therapeutic measures to alleviate patients' suffering associated with cancer. Systematic review registration number (PROSPERO): CRD42023413910.

The Effect of Using Virtual Reality Glasses on Anxiety and Fatigue in Women with Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Pretest-Posttest Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of using virtual reality glasses on anxiety and fatigue in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

DATA SOURCES

A total of 66 women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The intervention group watched and listened to beach and nature content with virtual reality glasses for 30 minutes. The control group also received standard care. An Introductory Information Form, the State Anxiety Scale, and the Cancer Fatigue Scale were used for data collection. The scales were administered to the groups before the intervention, followed by practice or standard care, and then the scales were re-administered. All patients were evaluated for each cycle over four cycles.

CONCLUSION

In the intervention group, the mean post-application anxiety scores decreased compared with the mean pretest scores, and the mean posttest anxiety scores decreased from the first cycle to the last cycle. In addition, the mean post-test anxiety scores of the intervention group were found to be lower in all four cycles than the mean post-test anxiety scores of the control group. In the intervention group, the mean post-test fatigue and subscales scores decreased in all cycles compared with the mean pre-test scores.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research has shown that the use of virtual reality glasses is effective in reducing anxiety and fatigue scale scores and their subscales in patients with breast cancer. For this reason, it is recommended to introduce the use of virtual reality glasses to patients and to present their use according to patients' preferences.

Effect of online solution-focused counseling on the sexual quality of life of women with a history of breast cancer: a clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and in Iran, affects important aspects of the lives of the survivors of this condition, especially the quality of sexual life. Solution-focused brief therapy is one of the therapeutic counseling approaches used in various fields, including sexual function problems. In recent years, online and internet-mediated counseling methods have received more attention.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effect of online counseling based on a solution-focused approach in improving the sexual quality of life (SQL) of women with breast cancer.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this clinical trial, the research population consisted of women with a history of breast cancer with a recorded file in Shahid Ramazanzadeh Radiation Oncology Center in Yazd and at least 6 months had elapsed since the end of their treatment. After selecting 80 samples based on the random numbers table, they were assigned into two groups of 40, i.e., active control and intervention, using random allocation software. Participants in the intervention group were given online counseling through the Skyroom space with a solution-focused approach. Eight weekly sessions were held each lasting 60-90 min. The active control group received an educational file to improve the SQL. All participants in two groups completed the SQL questionnaire at the beginning of the study, at the end of the study, and 1 month after the study. Data were analyzed with SPSS18 using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

Finally, the data of 33 participants in the intervention group and 32 participants in the active control group were analyzed. The mean score of the SQL in the intervention group increased from 68.57 ± 18.63 before the intervention to 78.84 ± 12.7 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.015), and to 79.60 ± 19.88 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.012). The mean score of the SQL in the active control group increased from 64.45 ± 22.76 before the intervention to 67.20 ± 20.29 immediately after the intervention (P = 0.33), and to 68.70 ± 20.76 1 month after the intervention (P = 0.62). The difference in the mean score of the SQL before and after the intervention between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

It seems that the use of counseling with a solution-focused approach in women with a history of breast cancer improves the SQL. Thus, considering the effectiveness of this type of training, it is recommended that this method be used as a sexual health counseling method in medical centers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This clinical trial is registered in Iranian registry center of clinical trials (IRCT) by registration code of IRCT20201221049784N1 in 06/03/2021.

Effect of mindfulness yoga on anxiety and depression in early breast cancer patients received adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

The objective of this study is to explore the effects of a mindfulness yoga treatment on emotional disorders, fatigue, pain, and health-related quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients.

METHODS

The eligible 136 participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to the experimental group (mindfulness yoga + conventional care) and the control group (conventional care). The hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms as the primary outcome. Secondary results comprised fatigue (RPFS-CV), pain (BPI-C), and health-related quality of life (FACT-B). Assessments were performed at baseline time, the 8th week, and the 20th week.

RESULTS

The Experimental group had a better prognosis in comparison with those in the control group, especially for anxiety [inter-group effect, T1: 1.18 (95% CI 0.20-2.17; P = 0.018)], depression [T1: 1.49 (95% CI 0.48-2.50; P = 0.004)] and health-related life quality [T1: - 6.34 (95% CI - 11.81 to - 0.87; P = 0.023)]. While fatigue [T1: 0.23 (95% CI - 0.24-0.69; P = 0.337); T2: 0.27 (95% CI - 0.16-0.71; P = 0.219)] and pain [T1: 1.11 (95% CI - 0.05-2.27; P = 0.060); T2: 0.68 (95% CI - 0.27-1.62; P = 0.159)] were not different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients with early-stage breast cancer who had received adjuvant chemotherapy, treatment with mindfulness yoga is as effective as conventional care in improving physical function. Along with other treatments, mindfulness yoga may help alleviate anxiety and depression to improve the overall physical and mental health and quality of life of early-stage breast cancer patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Registration number: ChiCTR2100052842, Reg. Date: 2021/11/6.