Use and helpfulness of self-administered stress management therapy in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy in community clinical settings

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2012;30(1):57-80. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2011.633981.

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.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Community Health Services
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Self Care / methods*
  • Stress, Psychological / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome