The Effect of Guided Imagery on Stress and Fatigue in Patients with Thyroid Cancer Undergoing Radioactive Iodine Therapy

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of guided imagery on stress and fatigue in patients undergoing radioactive iodine therapy after thyroidectomy in Korea. Participants were 84 individuals (44 for experimental group and 40 for control group) with thyroid cancer. The experimental group listened to a guided imagery CD once a day for 4 weeks. Global Assessment of Recent Stress and Revised Piper Fatigue Scale were self-administered, and heart rate variability was measured at three time points; prior to intervention (T1), just before intervention (T2) and 1 week later after intervention (T3). Heart rate variability was consisted of Standard Deviation of all NN interval (SDNN), Total Power (TP), Low Frequency (LF), and High Frequency (HF). There were significant decreases in stress (F = 28.45, P < 0.001) and fatigue (F = 26.17, P < 0.001) over time in the experimental group compared to the control group. Heart rate variability changed over time in the experimental group relative to the control group; SDNN (F = 6.68, P = 0.002), TP (F = 5.29, P = 0.006), LF (F = 4.58, P = 0.012), and HF (F = 3.71, P = 0.026). From the results of this study guided imagery can be recommended as an effective intervention to thyroid cancer patients with stress and fatigue.

The Effects of Guided Imagery on Heart Rate Variability in Simulated Spaceflight Emergency Tasks Performers

“…These findings were supported by previous researches [ 8 , 45 ] and added evidence to the effectiveness of guided imagery to reduce stress while performing spaceflight tasks. However, there is no clear explanation of how guided imagery brings about positive physical changes; one possible explanation has been provided by Bedford, who believes that perceptual processes are involved in imagery [ 46 ].…”

“…There are various ways to practice mental imagery. Generally, mental imagery was guided by some instructions given by an experienced psychology expert [ 8 , 11 ], which was defined in this study as instructor-guided imagery. In addition, we defined self-guided imagery as one way to practice mental imagery without instructions from a trainer.…”

“…Previous evidences support the effectiveness of guided imagery to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]. Thus, it has been utilized as a treatment strategy in those individuals or patients who need mental and physical relaxation [ 8 , 9 ]. The use of guided imagery has been reported to reduce self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, and fatigue as well as neuroendocrine measures of stress such as cortisol among nonpregnant subjects [ 9 ].…”

“…The use of guided imagery has been reported to reduce self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, and fatigue as well as neuroendocrine measures of stress such as cortisol among nonpregnant subjects [ 9 ]. Most of imagery research focuses on sports training and clinical treatment [ 8 , 10 ]; seldom is it applied to the domain of manned spaceflight [ 11 ]. Moreover, among many susceptible physiological biomarkers to evaluate and intervene in mental and physical state, heart rate variability (HRV) is an important clinical and investigational tool to reflect changes in cardiac autonomic regulation under extreme environments [ 12 ].…”

Relaxamento com visualização guiada: influência sobre a fadiga e a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço durante o tratamento radioterápico

“…Ambos os grupos foram avaliados durante duas semanas. O Concluíram que a prática de relaxamento é efetiva para a redução dos sintomas de dor e fadiga em pacientes com câncer em tratamento radioterápico(PATHAK et al, 2013) KWEKKEBOOM et al,2012;LEE;KIM;YU, 2013;PATHAK et al, 2013)Du et al (2015),.…”