Publication

Abstract : Introduction: According to WHO (2018), it is estimated that cancer is responsible for about 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Chemotherapy is used to treat the advanced stage of cancer but is associated with most common side effects which are Pain, Insomnia, Fatigue, Anorexia, Nausea and vomiting. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy (PMRT) on Physical Symptoms among Cancer Patients receiving Chemotherapy admitted in Cancer Unit of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Delhi. Material and Method: Quasi experimental with pre-test post-test control group design was used. A total of 40 GI cancer patients were enrolled with 20 patients each in experimental and comparison groups by lottery method. Tools used namely- Universal Pain Assessment Tool to assess Pain; Insomnia Severity Index Scale to assess Insomnia; Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events Version-5 to assess Fatigue, Nausea/Vomiting and Anorexia; and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale to assess Performance status. Results: This showed that mean pre-test insomnia score was 11 which was significantly reduced to 5.17 after the PMRT in the experimental group with p value 0.02. Similarly, there was a significant difference between mean pre-test and post-test grades of fatigue in the experimental group at 0.01 level. There was a significant difference in mean post-test scores of insomnia as well as post-test grades of fatigue in the experimental group and comparison groups at 0.05 level. There was statistically significant association of performance status with gender and educational status among patients in experimental group Conclusion: Hence, PMRT is effective in decreasing the physical symptoms of insomnia and fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy admitted in cancer of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.