The effect of Benson relaxation application (‘Bens app’) on reducing fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A quasi-experimental study
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2022), Original Research Article
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2022)

The effect of Benson relaxation application (‘Bens app’) on reducing fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A quasi-experimental study

Original Research Article
Categories: Health Informatics | Traditional, Complementary, & Alternative Medicines | Oncology Nursing
https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1843
Hendra Dwi Cahyono
Postgraduate Program of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3136-9591
Dewi Irawaty
Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6376-9082
Muhamad Adam
Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3495-8845
PDF

Keywords

chemotherapy
 mobile health
 nursing
 relaxation therapy
 fatigue
 Benson

How to Cite

Cahyono, H. D., Irawaty, D., & Adam, M. (2022). The effect of Benson relaxation application (‘Bens app’) on reducing fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A quasi-experimental study. Belitung Nursing Journal, 8(4), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1843
ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver

Download Citation

Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX
Share |
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Funder Registry Funding data - Crossref

  • Universitas Indonesia
    Grant numbers PUTI Saintekes Universitas Indonesia (NKB-4617/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2020)

Abstract

Background: Fatigue is the most common symptom in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Benson’s relaxation technique is considered effective to reduce fatigue, but its effect in combination with smartphone technology is limited.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze and determine the effect of the Benson relaxation application (Bens app) on fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest comparison group was used. Fifty-six patients were included using consecutive sampling technique, of which 28 were assigned to the experimental group (received Benson relaxation technique using Bens app) and comparison group (obtained Benson relaxation technique using booklet). The Benson relaxation was done two times per day for seven days, and the Brief Fatigue Inventory questionnaire was used to measure the patients’ fatigue levels. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests.

Results: The experimental group (p = 0.001) and the comparison group (p = 0.015) showed a significant reduction in fatigue after receiving the Benson relaxation for seven days. However, there was a statistically significant difference in fatigue between the experiment and comparison groups after the intervention (t55 = 2.481, p = 0.016).

Conclusion: Benson relaxation could reduce fatigue in patients with breast cancer using the Bens app and booklet. However, the Bens app is considered more effective than a booklet. Therefore, the Bens app can be viewed as an alternative to help patients perform Benson relaxation and integrated into the nurse palliative care program for patients with cancer.

https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1843
PDF

Supporting Agencies

PUTI Saintekes Universitas Indonesia (NKB-4617/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2020)

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2022 Hendra Dwi Cahyono, Dewi Irawaty, Muhamad Adam

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Article Metrics

Abstract views: 80 | PDF views: 139

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

PlumX Metrics

Declaration of Conflicting Interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

Acknowledgment

The researchers express their gratitude to the hospitals where the study was conducted, the participants in this study, and Universitas Indonesia.

Authors’ Contributions

All authors contributed substantial contributions to the study, critically reviewed and revised the manuscript, approved the version to be published, and agreed to be responsible for all aspects of the work. Specifically, study conception and design: HDC, DI, MA. Data collection: HDC, DI, MA. Data analysis and interpretation: HDC, MA. Drafting article: HDC, DI. Critically revised the article: HDC, DI, MA.

Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.


References

Ai, Z., Gao, X., Zheng, S., & Lu, C. (2020). Variability and influencing factors of QOL in breast cancer patients having chemotherapy. Clinical Nursing Research, 29(8), 571-578. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1054773818803691

Al Maqbali, M., Al Sinani, M., Al Naamani, Z., & Al Badi, K. (2021). Prevalence of fatigue in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 61(1), 167-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.037

Benson, H., Greenwood, M. M., & Klemchuk, H. (1975). The relaxation response: Psychophysiologic aspects and clinical applications. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 6(1-2), 87-98. https://doi.org/10.2190/376w-e4mt-qm6q-h0um

Ha, X. T. N., & Thanasilp, S. (2021). Psychometric properties of Quality-of-Life Index for Vietnamese women with breast cancer three weeks postmastectomy. Belitung Nursing Journal, 7(3), 235-245. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1332

Höfler, C., Osmani, F., & Schienle, A. (2022). Placebo effects on the quantity and quality of relaxation training. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(3), 581-588. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1359105320954238

Indonesian Ministry of Health. (2018). Riset Kesehatan Dasar [Basic Health Research]. https://www.litbang.kemkes.go.id/laporan-riset-kesehatan-dasar-riskesdas/

Jafari, H., Janati, Y., Yazdani, J., Bali, N., & Hassanpour, S. (2018). The effect of relaxation technique on fatigue levels after stem cell transplant. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 23(5), 388-394. https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fijnmr.IJNMR_26_17

Junghaenel, D. U., Cohen, J., Schneider, S., Neerukonda, A. R., & Broderick, J. E. (2015). Identification of distinct fatigue trajectories in patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Supportive Care in Cancer, 23(9), 2579-2587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2616-x

Karagozoglu, S., & Kahve, E. (2013). Effects of back massage on chemotherapy-related fatigue and anxiety: Supportive care and therapeutic touch in cancer nursing. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.07.002

Kayyali, R., Peletidi, A., Ismail, M., Hashim, Z., Bandeira, P., & Bonnah, J. (2017). Awareness and use of mHealth apps: A study from England. Pharmacy, 5(2), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy5020033

Marques, V. A., Ferreira-Junior, J. B., Lemos, T. V., Moraes, R. F., Junior, J. R. d. S., Alves, R. R., Silva, M. S., Freitas-Junior, R. d., & Vieira, C. A. (2020). Effects of chemotherapy treatment on muscle strength, quality of life, fatigue, and anxiety in women with breast cancer. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7289. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197289

O'Regan, P., McCarthy, G., O'Reilly, S., Power, D., Bird, B. H., Murphy, C. G., & Hegarty, J. (2019). Cancer‐related fatigue and self‐care agency: A multicentre survey of patients receiving chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(23-24), 4424-4433. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15026

Oh, P.-J., & Cho, J.-R. (2020). Changes in fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life after chemotherapy in women with breast cancer: A prospective study. Cancer Nursing, 43(1), E54-E60. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000689

Paramita, N., Nusdwinuringtyas, N., Nuhonni, S. A., Atmakusuma, T. D., Ismail, R. I., Mendoza, T. R., & Cleeland, C. S. (2016). Validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the brief fatigue inventory in cancer patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 52(5), 744-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.04.011

Poorolajal, J., Ashtarani, F., & Alimohammadi, N. (2017). Effect of Benson relaxation technique on the preoperative anxiety and hemodynamic status: A single blind randomized clinical trial. Artery Research, 17, 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.01.002

Rambod, M., Sharif, F., Pourali-Mohammadi, N., Pasyar, N., & Rafii, F. (2014). Evaluation of the effect of Benson's relaxation technique on pain and quality of life of haemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51(7), 964-973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.11.004

Rau, K.-M., Shun, S.-C., Chiou, T.-J., Lu, C.-H., Ko, W.-H., Lee, M.-Y., Huang, W.-T., Yeh, K.-H., Chang, C.-S., & Hsieh, R.-K. (2020). A nationwide survey of fatigue in cancer patients in Taiwan: An unmet need. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 50(6), 693-700. https://doi.org/10.1093/jjco/hyaa038

Soheili, M., Nazari, F., Shaygannejad, V., & Valiani, M. (2017). A comparison the effects of reflexology and relaxation on the psychological symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 6, 11. https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_166_14

Vuttanon, N., Finnegan, L., Lojanapiwat, B., Sittisombut, S., Meechamnan, C., & Dhatsuwan, J. (2019). Effect of progressive muscle relaxation on symptom clusters in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: A quasi-experimental controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 37, 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.08.004

Wang, X. S., & Woodruff, J. F. (2015). Cancer-related and treatment-related fatigue. Gynecologic Oncology, 136(3), 446-452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.10.013

Wolvers, M. D. J., Bussmann, J. B. J., Bruggeman-Everts, F. Z., Boerema, S. T., van de Schoot, R., & Vollenbroek-Hutten, M. M. R. (2018). Physical behavior profiles in chronic cancer-related fatigue. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25(1), 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9670-3

Wulansari, W., & Margawati, A. (2018). Effect of brain exercise and Benson relaxation therapy on depression level in the elderly in the elderly social service unit. Belitung Nursing Journal, 4(2), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.361

Yona, S., & Dahlia, D. (2020). Effect of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality among patients with chronic diseases: A literature review. Belitung Nursing Journal, 6(2), 30-34. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.1060

Zhou, L., Bao, J., Setiawan, I. M. A., Saptono, A., & Parmanto, B. (2019). The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ): Development and validation study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(4), e11500. https://doi.org/10.2196/11500