Effectiveness of Relaxation Breathing Exercise on fatigue in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Relaxation Breathing Exercise (RBE) on fatigue in patients with gynaecological cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods We used a quasi-experiment with pre- and post-test design. Forty-two patients were consecutively sampled, 21 of whom were assigned to the group receiving RBE four times a day and 21 to the group receiving RBE twice a day. Fatigue scores were measured every day for 7 days for both groups using the Piper Fatigue Scale. Data obtained were analysed using repeated-ANOVA and independent t -test with a significant level of α < 0.01. Results We found a significant decrease ( P < 0.01) in the mean fatigue scores of both groups (four times RBE in a day group = 3.29 ± 0.59 and twice RBE in a day group = 4.19 ± 0.61) after the completion of the intervention. However, the four times RBE a day group showed larger decrease on fatigue scores than the twice RBE a day group did (Mean Difference = 0.91; 99% CI = 0.41 to 1.41; P = 0.001). Conclusion Conducting RBE four times a day effectively alleviated fatigue better than RBE twice a day on gynaecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

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