title: The effect of guided imagery on stress and fatigue in patients with thyroid cancer undergoing radioactive iodine therapy.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of guided imagery on stress and fatigue in patients undergoing radioactive iodine therapy after thyroidectomy in Korea. Participants were 84 individuals (44 for experimental group and 40 for control group) with thyroid cancer. The experimental group listened to a guided imagery CD once a day for 4 weeks. Global Assessment of Recent Stress and Revised Piper Fatigue Scale were self-administered, and heart rate variability was measured at three time points; prior to intervention (T1), just before intervention (T2) and 1 week later after intervention (T3). Heart rate variability was consisted of Standard Deviation of all NN interval (SDNN), Total Power (TP), Low Frequency (LF), and High Frequency (HF). There were significant decreases in stress (F = 28.45, P < 0.001) and fatigue (F = 26.17, P < 0.001) over time in the experimental group compared to the control group. Heart rate variability changed over time in the experimental group relative to the control group; SDNN (F = 6.68, P = 0.002), TP (F = 5.29, P = 0.006), LF (F = 4.58, P = 0.012), and HF (F = 3.71, P = 0.026). From the results of this study guided imagery can be recommended as an effective intervention to thyroid cancer patients with stress and fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Hye
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Republic of Korea ; Immunoregulatory Therapeutics Group in Brain Busan 21 Project, Busan Metropolitan City, Yeonje-gu 611-735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hak Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu