Use and Helpfulness of Self-Administered Stress Management Therapy in Patients Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy in Community Clinical Settings

Abstract

The purpose of this multicenter longitudinal randomized controlled trial was to examine the efficacy of self-administered stress management training (SSMT) in improving quality of life and reducing psychological distress among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Participants were randomized to SSMT (n = 111) or usual psychosocial care only (n = 109). Mixed linear modeling demonstrated no significant improvements in primary outcome measures; however, participants assigned to SSMT reported using significantly more relaxation techniques (p < 0.0001), showed improvements on emotional adjustment scores, and demonstrated a stabilizing effect on the functional adjustment scores. Findings highlight the usefulness of SSMT in community clinical settings.

Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence‐based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment

“…Stress management is recommended to reduce anxiety in patients during breast cancer treatment (grade B), but long‐term stress‐management group programs appear to be better than self‐administered home programs. This recommendation is based on 4 RCTs, which were completed between 2008 and 2013 among patients with breast cancer, testing a stress‐management intervention compared with usual care using an improvement in anxiety as the primary outcome . Study participants included only patients who had breast cancer in 2 of the 4 trials and a mixed group of patients with cancer that included a significant proportion of women who had breast cancer in the other 2 trials .…”

“…This recommendation is based on 4 RCTs, which were completed between 2008 and 2013 among patients with breast cancer, testing a stress‐management intervention compared with usual care using an improvement in anxiety as the primary outcome . Study participants included only patients who had breast cancer in 2 of the 4 trials and a mixed group of patients with cancer that included a significant proportion of women who had breast cancer in the other 2 trials . In all 4 trials, patients with breast cancer were included from defined periods along the continuum of care, including before surgery, during chemotherapy, and after cancer treatment.…”

Efficacy of a Spanish‐Language Self‐Administered Stress Management Training intervention for Latinas undergoing chemotherapy

“…In the current study, we hypothesized that among women who received the intervention, those who were less acculturated and had a stronger preference for receiving health care information in Spanish would benefit more. This was not the case, consistent with prior research on self‐administered stress management in Latinos . Latinas who were less acculturated may have experienced more stress related to immigration, communication with family members, or other interpersonal issues related to the cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment that were not addressed by the SL‐SAT techniques.…”

“…In a study that evaluated a similar self‐administered stress‐management training intervention for Latino men and women in multiple community clinical settings, no significant treatment effects on quality of life were found among participants receiving stress management training. However, the intervention techniques were deemed useful by participants.…”

“…Men randomized to the intervention demonstrated improved physical, emotional, and total well‐being relative to men in the seminar. In another study, Latino men and women undergoing chemotherapy were randomized to receive either a self‐administered stress management intervention or usual care (UC). Delivered in community‐based cancer settings, the intervention was not found to improve quality of life or reduce psychological distress.…”