Effects of a relaxation breathing exercise on fatigue in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the effect of a relaxation breathing exercise on fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.


BACKGROUND
Exercise is a promising approach in ameliorating the fatigue associated with cancer and its treatment.


METHODS
A randomized design with control, experimental groups being assessed pre- and postintervention.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients were randomly selected, with 18 assigned to an exercise group and 17 to a control group. The exercise intervention lasted for 30 minutes every day for six weeks. It consisted of physical exercise combined with relaxation breathing exercise. Fatigue was measured by the revised version of the Piper Fatigue Scale.


RESULTS
The exercise group had a greater decrease in fatigue than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that a relaxation breathing exercise would improve fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A relaxation breathing exercise by a nurse can improve fatigue in allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.
Kim
Sang-Dol
SD
St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
Kim
Hee-Seung
HS
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D003071:Cognition; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012677:Sensation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome