Eficácia da técnica de relaxamento com imagem guiada em pacientes oncológicos submetidos a tratamento quimioterápico

Abstract

Este artigo está licenciado sob forma de uma licença Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional, que permite uso irrestrito, distribuição e reprodução em qualquer meio, desde que a publicação original seja corretamente citada. ABSTRACT Aims:To evaluate the efficacy of guided imagery relaxation in decreasing depression and anxiety levels in cancer patients submitted to chemotherapy. Methods: A nonrandomized clinical trial was performed in male and female patients aged 30 years or older submitted to chemotherapy at a university hospital in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. The patients were divided into an Experimental Group, which received the intervention (relaxation technique), and into a Control Group, which did not receive it. Twelve-minute guided imagery relaxation sessions were performed for 14 weeks, always during the chemotherapy procedure. In order to evaluate depression and anxiety levels, the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied at baseline and at the end of the study period. The data were analyzed by the EpiInfo7.0 statistical software using Student's t, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, and Pearson's chi-square tests. Statistical significance was obtained when p<0.05. Results: A total of 113 participants with a mean age of 51.3 years, among whom 62.8% were female and 72.6% were married, were included in the study. Breast, lung, and intestinal cancers were the most prevalent types of neoplasms. Fifty-seven patients were assigned to the Experimental Group and 56 to the Control Group. There was a decrease in depression and anxiety levels in the Experimental Group, in which depression scores ranged from 17.3±9.04 to 14.5±7.47 (p<0.0001) and anxiety scores ranged from 15.1±8.84 to 12.9±7.58 (p<0.0001). No significant difference was observed in the Control Group between the baseline and final evaluations. Conclusions:The guided imagery relaxation technique was efficacious in reducing depression and anxiety levels in this sample of chemotherapytreated cancer patients.

O significado de uma terapia integrativa de relaxamento guiado para mulheres com câncer de mama*

“…A study in the area also showed that participants were more willing and communicative after the relaxation sessions, with feelings of well-being and more positive thoughts about life (25) . However, there is a certain limitation in the literature on such findings, since there are no studies with a strong level of scientific evidence to prove and describe how these physiological processes occur, which also shows the great need and importance of developing randomized clinical research for constructing scientific knowledge in the area, with higher levels of evidence.…”

“…In this search for scientific knowledge regarding the benefits of treatment, literature on the area shows that guided images produce psychological responses which reach the hypothalamic axis, which results in a decrease in stress, a sense of well-being and an immune adaptation (6,25) . Thus, the woman's ability to imagine her immune system fighting cancer is critical during guided relaxation, as it causes a series of physiological actions which help her to cope with the disease (20) .…”

Uso das práticas integrativas e complementares pela enfermagem em pessoas com câncer: revisão integrativa/ Use of integrative and complementary practices by reference in people with cancer: integrative review

“…Para exemplificar alguns benefícios do relaxamento, cita-se o ensaio clínico, desenvolvido com pessoas que estavam iniciando tratamento quimioterápico em um hospital universitário. Por meio deste processo, foi possível constatar que o grupo no qual foi aplicada essa técnica obteve eficácia na redução dos níveis de depressão e de ansiedade (41) .…”

Auriculotherapy With Needles to Improve the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients: An Integrative Literature Review / Auriculoterapia com Agulhas para Melhora da Qualidade de Vida em Pacientes com Câncer: Revisão Integrativa

“…23 Drugs and non-pharmacological interventions such as surgeries, radiotherapies, and physiotherapy are used to treat cancer pain; as well as psychological techniques and acupuncture, the latter two are little used interventions due to the lack of indication and availability of specialized treatment centers. 3,7,23 Article A1 performed a study comparing the group of auriculotherapy with needles applied at points with electrodermal signal, (which is a skin conductivity response, also called galvanic skin response) 24 with two groups, one that used needles and other seeds of mustard, in placebo points, for the reduction of pain in cancer patients. It was concluded that there was a 36% decrease in pain in the group that received ear acupuncture at electrodermal signal points after two months of treatment.…”

“…It was concluded that there was a 36% decrease in pain in the group that received ear acupuncture at electrodermal signal points after two months of treatment. 24 Article A6 performed a study that verified the efficacy and safety of auriculotherapy with needles in reducing the symptoms of joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors applied in two groups. One group received the intervention for six weeks followed by observation, in the other, the observation was made for later application of the intervention.…”