title: Effects of a Short-Term Dance Movement Therapy Program on Symptoms and Stress in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind Trial.
abstract: Integrated interventions with combined elements of body movement and psychotherapy on treatment-related symptoms in cancer patients are relatively scarce.
  
  
  
  The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of dance movement therapy (DMT) on improving treatment-related symptoms in a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  
  A total of 139 Chinese patients with breast cancer awaiting adjuvant radiotherapy were randomized to DMT or control group. The intervention included six 1.5-hour DMT sessions provided twice a week over the course of radiotherapy. Self-report measures on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and quality of life were completed before and after the three-week program.
  
  
  
  DMT showed significant effects on buffering the deterioration in perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference (Cohen d = 0.34-0.36, P < 0.05). No significant intervention effects were found on anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and quality of life (Cohen d = 0.01-0.20, P > 0.05).
  
  
  
  The short-term DMT program can counter the anticipated worsening of stress and pain in women with breast cancer during radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR; Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR. Electronic address: tinho@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Rainbow T H
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR.
authors.forename: Ted C T
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR.
authors.forename: Irene K M
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR.
authors.forename: Paul S F
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR.
authors.forename: Mai-Yee
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Luk
mesh_terms: D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003614:Dance Therapy; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Breast cancer; dance/movement therapy; pain; perceived stress; randomized controlled trials