J Nurs Acad Soc.  1987 Dec;17(3):195-203.

Efficaey of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training in Reducing Nausea and Vomiting, Anxiety and Symptom Distress of Cancer Chemotherapy

• Song M
• Shin GY

Abstract

Twenty five cancer patients were assigned to two groups: The experimental group which received Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) training and the control group without the training. Base line data for dependent variables -nausea and vomiting, state anxiety and symptom distress- were-collected when the subjects of both groups received the first cycle chemotherapy. Then the experimental group was trained for PMR between the first and the second cycle chemotherapy. The same dependent variables were measured during the second cycle chemotherapy from the subjects. Results indicated that the PMR group showed no-significant difference in severity of nausea and vomiting compared to the control gorup.Although the significance was not supported, the severity of nausea and vomiting in experimental group decreased while control group increased between the first and fifth day of the second cycle chemotherapy. The experimental group showed significantly less. state anxiety during the second cycle than the control group (p<0.01). Significantly low symptom distress was also reported in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01). The result suggests that PMR training may be an effective procedure for helping cancer patients cope with the adverse effects of their chemotherapy.

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Drug Therapy*
Humans
Muscle Relaxation*
Nausea*
Vomiting*