Abstract
Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the relaxation technique with guided imagery by means of virtual reality on health-related quality of life in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods:A quasi-experiment conducted in a Bone Marrow Transplantation Service of a public hospital in southern Brazil. From October 2019 to October 2020, forty-two adult participants who underwent transplantation were included, 35 in the intervention group and seven in the control group. A guided imagery intervention, with audio guiding the relaxation associated with nature images in 360º, was performed during the hospitalization period. Data were collected on the first day of hospitalization, on the transplantation day, during the neutropenia stage, and at pre-hospital discharge. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Neutropenia (FACT-N) were used to assess health-related quality of life, fatigue and neutropenia. Data were analyzed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model for the evolution of the health-related quality of life assessments over time, considering the groups and stages. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was adopted for the correlation analyses. Results:Allogeneic transplantation was predominant: 28 (80%) in the intervention group and 5 (71.43%) in the control group. There were improvements in the health-related quality of life scores, although not significant. A significant difference was found among the stages (p<0.050) and a significant positive correlation (p<0.000) among the variables on general quality of life, additional concerns, fatigue and neutropenia in all stages. Conclusion:Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation suffer changes in their quality of life. Interventions based on integrative practices emerge as an option to minimize them.
Highlights
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is a complex and singular treatment, used for hematological and non-hematological diseases; the process requires the intervention of different health professionals
In the control group (CG), discontinuation was due to death
A mean of 11 interventions were performed per intervention group (IG) participant
Summary
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is a complex and singular treatment, used for hematological and non-hematological diseases; the process requires the intervention of different health professionals. Studies in HSCT services show that the hospitalization period negatively affects the patient’s personal performance and causes additional concerns. These conditions generate an impairment in quality of life, which is conceptualized as multidimensional and includes physical, psychological and social domains (Brice et al, 2017; Machado et al, 2018). The complications related to HSCT are difficult to control, it is the health professional’s duty, especially the nurse’s, to offer practical options aiming to reduce anxiety and the emotional, functional and social impacts, as well as to increase treatment effectiveness, improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Liang et al, 2018). HRQoL can be defined as the perceived health status, that is, how much the disease or chronic state is perceived by the individual
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