Ankie Tan Cheung

Randomised controlled trial of music listening combined with progressive muscle relaxation for mood management in women receiving chemotherapy for cancer

Abstract Aims To evaluate the effects of passive music listening combined with progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety, depression, stress, coping, and quality-of-life in women with breast and gynaecological cancers receiving chemotherapy. Methods This was an assessor-blinded, randomised wait-list controlled trial. A total of 120 participants were randomly allocated into an intervention group or a wait-list control group. The intervention group received an intervention comprising training on passive music listening and progressive muscle relaxation, with once-daily self-practice at home for 3 weeks. The wait-list control group received the same intervention after the outcome assessment at week 6. All outcome data were collected before (T0) and 3 weeks (T1), 6 weeks (T2), and 12 months (T3) after randomisation. A generalised estimating equations model was used to compare the changes in each outcome at different time points. Process evaluation was conducted using data from the patient’s self-report forms and interviews. Results The findings indicated that at T1 and T2, the intervention group’s reductions in anxiety were significantly larger than those of the control group. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited significantly better decreases in depression at T2, stress at T1, and dysfunctional coping at T2, and a greater improvement in quality-of-life score at T1 and T2 when compared to the control group. Most of the interviewed participants provided positive feedback on the intervention. Conclusions The intervention was beneficial for lowering anxiety, depression, and stress and increasing the quality-of-life of women receiving chemotherapy for breast and gynaecological cancers. Trial registration. The trial was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 9 February 2022 (registration number: NCT05262621).

Effects of Cancer Rehabilitation Interventions for Women Treated for Gynaecological Cancers: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

ABSTRACTAimTo analyse and synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation interventions in increasing physical activity, increasing healthy dietary habits, alleviating psychological distress, and increasing health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in women treated for gynaecological cancers (GCs).DesignA meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Data SourcesA systematic search was conducted in 12 databases from inception to 31 May 2024.Review MethodsThe quantitative results from comparable RCTs were pooled and meta‐analysed using Review Manager 5.4 software. The results from non‐comparable (i.e., clinically heterogeneous) RCTs were narratively summarised. The methodological quality of all RCTs was assessed using Version 2 of the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials.ResultsNine RCTs reported in a total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and comprised a total of 418 patients. The interventions had significant effects on total physical activity levels at post‐intervention, 6‐month follow‐up, and 12‐month follow‐up, and on self‐efficacy in physical activity at post‐intervention and 3‐month follow‐up. However, the interventions did not significantly improve overall HRQoL or healthy dietary habits and did not significantly alleviate anxiety and depression. The key intervention components were information provision on health‐promoting behaviours; adoption of behavioural change techniques (goal setting, action planning, relapse prevention, problem‐solving, self‐monitoring, and social support); and stress and emotion management.ConclusionRehabilitation interventions effectively increase physical activity in women treated for GCs, leading to sustainable effects. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such interventions in improving overall HRQoL, encouraging healthy eating, and alleviating psychological distress in women treated for GCs.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThis review found that rehabilitation interventions can increase physical activity levels among women treated for GCs. It also identified the key effective components of such interventions.Reporting MethodThis review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Statement.Patient or Public ContributionNone.Trial Registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42023442877