A holistic intervention for alleviating anxiety, depression, and fatigue in cervical cancer

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate how well an intervention program reduces anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Methods: The study was carried out at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education in a hospital in Lebanon. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 30 patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Participants were randomized into two groups of 15 each using an approach for comprehensive enumeration sampling. The Zung Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Fatigue Scale were among the research instruments. The study approach involved counseling, home care, and the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique. Results: Both groups had comparable sociodemographic and clinical profiles. The study comprised 30 participants, averaging 32 years in the experimental group and 28 years in the control group. Most of the participants were married (74 % experimental, 60 % control), with a significant proportion identified as housewives (87 % control, 60 % experimental). In addition, many had limited education, with 74 % of the experimental group and 67 % of the control group below the primary level. The intervention group, which received counseling, home care and Progressive Muscle Relaxation, experienced significantly greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with p-values below 0.001 for all variables. Statistical analyzes, including paired and independent t-tests, confirmed these findings. Conclusions: The therapeutic program significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and fatigue in patients undergoing cancer treatment, with p-values less than 0.001. These findings highlight the importance of tailored support, suggesting that integrating such interventions into standard care can improve patients’ mental and emotional well-being.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms