Document Type : Scientific Research
Authors
1 M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling Group, Islamic Azad University of Khomeini-Shahr, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Assistant professor of Social Work Group, Islamic Azad University of Khomeini-Shahr, Isfahan, Iran.
3 M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Objectives: Cancer has experienced alarming growth in the last two decades and is considered as an urgent health problem of modern life. Meanwhile, breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and its annual incidence is increasing at a rate of 1.8 to 2% in the world, and it ranks first among all women's cancers. However it has a major difference from other chronic diseases. In addition to requiring long-term care and treatment, it cannot be completely cured. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group self-healing training on distress tolerance, emotional reactivity and anxiety in women with breast cancer in Isfahan. Methods: It was semi-experimental in the form of pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all women with breast cancer in Isfahan who had referred to support center for cancer patients in the first quarter of 2011, and their number was 93 people in this period of time based on the statistics received from the counseling center. 30 people were selected as the sample through available sampling and were placed in two experimental (15 people) and control (15 people) groups. The used tools were Simons & Gaher's distress tolerance (2005), Matuo & Nock's emotional reactivity (2008) and Reese and Patterson anxiety (1985) questionnaires. Self-healing group training sessions based on the protocol of Latifi and Meravi (2017) adapted from Loyd and Johnson (2010) were conducted during 14 sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software in two descriptive and inferential (normalization and MANCOVA) according to the investigated hypotheses. Results: The results showed that group self-healing training on distress tolerance and its dimensions (tolerance, evaluation and regulation), emotional reactivity (sensitivity, intensity and stability) and anxiety (fear of physical symptoms, fear of cognitive control distortion, fear of observing anxiety reactions) is effective in women with cancer in Isfahan (P<0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it seems that this method can be used for breast cancer patients. The reason for the effectivness of self-healing training on reducing cancer patients’ anxiety and stress in physical and psychological dimensions can be attributed to the effects of direct training in the field of fear and anxiety in this intervention. In this treatment method for treating anxiety, strategies include self-education and communication management (keeping calm, avoiding haste, avoiding useless discussions, speaking in a soft tone, not reacting quickly and not judging quickly), trusting others (patience, calmness, happiness and entrusting the solution of the problem to a higher power), adjustment of idealism (reducing the desire to be perfect and accepting mistakes as an inseparable part of every human being), order and time management (having discipline, planning and prioritization and doing necessary daily tasks), correct connection with the mind (living in the present moment), and using physical and muscle relaxation techniques (muscle relaxation, breathing, hydrotherapy, swimming, walking, religious behaviors, watching the sky, listening to the sound of water, meditation and yoga, the use of relaxing audio files at least once a day) were used and the patients were helped to reduce their anxiety to a great. Considering the confirmation of the effectiveness of self-healing training on reducing emotional reactivity and anxiety in people with cancer, it is suggested that doctors and nurses pay attention to their psychological condition in addition to physical treatments for these patients and if they observe psychological problems caused by the disease, refer them to psychologists and counsellors. It is also suggested to set up counseling and psychological centers for cancer patients in hospitals.
Highlights
Conclusion: Therefore, it seems that this method can be used for breast cancer patients. The reason for the effectivness of self-healing training on reducing cancer patients’ anxiety and stress in physical and psychological dimensions can be attributed to the effects of direct training in the field of fear and anxiety in this intervention. In this treatment method for treating anxiety, strategies include self-education and communication management (keeping calm, avoiding haste, avoiding useless discussions, speaking in a soft tone, not reacting quickly and not judging quickly), trusting others (patience, calmness, happiness and entrusting the solution of the problem to a higher power), adjustment of idealism (reducing the desire to be perfect and accepting mistakes as an inseparable part of every human being), order and time management (having discipline, planning and prioritization and doing necessary daily tasks), correct connection with the mind (living in the present moment), and using physical and muscle relaxation techniques (muscle relaxation, breathing, hydrotherapy, swimming, walking, religious behaviors, watching the sky, listening to the sound of water, meditation and yoga, the use of relaxing audio files at least once a day) were used and the patients were helped to reduce their anxiety to a great. Considering the confirmation of the effectiveness of self-healing training on reducing emotional reactivity and anxiety in people with cancer, it is suggested that doctors and nurses pay attention to their psychological condition in addition to physical treatments for these patients and if they observe psychological problems caused by the disease, refer them to psychologists and counsellors. It is also suggested to set up counseling and psychological centers for cancer patients in hospitals.
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