The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of healing touch and relaxation therapy on cervical cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
The side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment are often severe and can have devastating effects on the mental and physical well-being of cancer patients. This study will determine whether healing touch and relaxation therapy are effective in minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in cervical cancer patients. Participants in this study will receive weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments for 6 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care (SC), SC plus relaxation therapy, or SC plus healing touch therapy. The relaxation therapy consists of progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. The healing touch therapy involves an energy-based modality in which health care practitioners stimulate the energy fields surrounding the patient. A physician-completed assessment and measures of immune function will be used to assess the well-being and overall quality of life of participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
natural killer cell cytotoxicity
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
T-cell counts
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
side effects
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
distress
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
WBC and RBC
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
days of treatment delay
Time frame: Baseline to week 6
salivary cortisol
Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment
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