Effectiveness of Stress Management and Relaxation Training in Reducing Negative Affect and Improving Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: At 2005, stomach, gullet, breast and prostate cancer were diagnosed as the leading causes of cancer among Iranian population. The purpose of this pilot study with follow-up and control groups was to investigate the effectiveness of stress management and relaxation training for Women with Breast Cancer (B-SMART) in reducing the negative affect and improving quality of Life of women with breast cancer.
 Methods: The population of the study were all the women with breast cancer who referred to Mostafa Khomeyni Hospital and 18 patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly allocated to experimental group (9 patients) and control group (9 patients). The stress management and relaxation training program for women with breast cancer was performed on the experimental group during 10 weekly sessions. PANAS questionnaire for Negative Affect and QLQ -C30, QLQ-Br23 questionnaires for quality of life, were completed by both groups before, after and 2 months after program.
 Results: The data analyzed using Variance for repeated measures (tests of within Subjects effects and between Subjects effects) revealed that B-SMART led to a significant decrease in negative affect and improvement in some subscales of quality of life in experimental group after training and 2 months later in comparison with the control group.
 Conclusion: Stress management and relaxation programs for women with breast cancer will increase their quality of life and psychological status.