title: Reducing psychological distress in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: Psychological distress is a common problem among patients with cancer, yet it mostly goes unreported and untreated. This study examined the association of a psycho-educational intervention with the psychological distress levels of breast cancer and cervical cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design with a comparison group. One hundred patients at a cancer hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia, completed Distress Thermometer screening before and after chemotherapy. Fifty patients in the intervention group were given a psycho-educational video with positive reappraisal, education and relaxation contents, while receiving chemotherapy. Patients who received the psycho-educational intervention had significantly lower distress levels compared with those in the control group. Routine distress screening, followed by distress management and outcome assessment, is needed to improve the wellbeing of cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Maternity and Women's Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Indonesia.
authors.forename: Ariesta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milanti
authors.affiliation: Principal Lecturer, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Metsälä
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hannula
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Breast cancer; Cervical cancer; Chemotherapy; Distress; Psycho-educational