A comparative study to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery vs acupressure on bio physiological parameters among patients receiving chemotherapy treatment in selected hospitals at Kanyakumari district Tamilnadu

Abstract

According to National Cancer Institute, Cancer is a group of diseases newlineinvolving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of newlinethe body. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. There are many newlinetypes of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy is the treatment of disease by means of newlinechemical substances or drugs. Chemotherapy side effects are unavoidable. Yet some newlineof the complementary therapies can be incorporated along with the treatment for newlineadded effect. A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Guided Imagery newlineVS Acupressure on Bio Physiological Parameters among Patients Receiving newlineChemotherapy Treatment in Selected Hospitals at Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu newlinewas conducted. A quantitative evaluative research approach and quasi experimental newlineresearch design was adopted. 250 samples admitted in Holy Cross hospital, Nagercoil newlinewith 2nd or 3rd stage of Breast or GI cancer and receiving six cycles of chemotherapy newlinewere selected using non probability convenience sampling technique. They were newlinedivided into 125 samples per group. Demographic data were collected from them. newlineDuring the first cycle of chemotherapy, both the groups were pretested for biophysiological newlineparameters by using the research tools, observation tool and FACIT newlinefatigue scale version 4. The experimental group I was given Guided Imagery for 18 newlineminutes and experimental group II was given Acupressure for 18 minutes for five newlinecycles of chemotherapy. Post tests were conducted with the same tool for five cycles newlineamong both the groups after chemotherapy. Thus the study concluded that acupressure is more effective than guided imagery. There was no statistically significant association between the pretest scores newlineof bio-physiological parameters and demographic variables among patients receiving newlinechemotherapy. Thus the most effective complementary therapy can be provided for newlinethe people and they can be enabled to complete all their cycles of chemotherapy newlinewithout any complicatedness. newline newline