Effects of Healing Touch and Relaxation Therapy on Adult Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Abstract

The LOS reduction could result in decreased cost. Second, mood and function improvements support quality of life during SCT treatment.

Complementary therapies for fatigue after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: an integrative review

“…Among all types of complementary therapies, music therapy is the most tested for fatigue after HSCT, but with mixed results [17][18][19]. Other complementary therapies tested for fatigue in HSCT recipients with inconclusive evidence are relaxation therapy, mindfulness-based intervention, and massage [20][21][22][23]. One potential threat to the validity of this review is the file drawer problem.…”

“…Daily session for 6 weeks (30 min/session) Lu, Hart, Lutgendorf, Oh, and Silverman [21] During the first week, participants were guided through passive progressive muscle relaxation. In the second week, a personalized guided imagery meditation was used.…”

“…A pilot study by Lu, Hart, Lutgendorf, Oh, and Silverman [21] evaluated the feasibility of a relaxation program in 26 patients hospitalized for autologous or allogeneic HSCT, stratified by the transplant type and randomized to either relaxation therapy or healing touch. Participants in the relaxation group received a daily, 20-min session of relaxation therapy for three consecutive weeks starting on day 1.…”

“…To summarize, two studies evaluated relaxation therapy for fatigue in HSCT recipients. Both studies included inpatients hospitalized for transplant, one study included only allogeneic HSCT recipients [20] and one included both autologous and allogeneic HSCT [21]. A seen in Table 2, the intervention delivery and dose were different with one study using a daily session of relaxation therapy guided by a recorded cassette tape for 6 weeks [20] and the other one using a daily relaxation session delivered by a trained graduate clinical psychology student for 3 weeks [21].…”

“…Components of relaxation therapy interventions were also different. The intervention in one study included instructions to perform relaxation breathing exercises in a supine position [20] whereas in the other study it included breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery [21]. Both studies were underpowered and the one with positive results [20] lacked an active control group and blinding techniques, reducing confidence in the results.…”