The Effect of Relaxation Technique on Fatigue Levels after Stem Cell Transplant.

BACKGROUND

Many patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) experience fatigue due to their disease process and its long period of treatment. Using nonpharmacological methods to help reduce their fatigue is a reasonable endeavor. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Benson's relaxation technique on fatigue levels in patients after HSCT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-seven patients were randomly selected to the intervention ( = 19) and control group ( = 18). In the intervention group, the participants performed Benson's relaxation exercises for 20 min twice per day over a period of 15 days. The data collection tools used included a demographic and medical information form and the Brief Fatigue Inventory, completed by both groups on three different occasions (upon admission and days 8 and 14 after the HSCT). The data obtained were analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version-20 using statistical tests.

RESULTS

The results of the independent -test showed no significant preintervention differences in fatigue levels between the two groups. On days 8 ( = 11.21, < 0.001) and 14 after the transplant ( = 15.62, < 0.001), a significant difference was observed in the mean level of fatigue between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that Benson's relaxation technique would improve fatigue in HSCT patients.