The efficacy of non-drug therapy in cancer pain management

Abstract

This study sort to examine the effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) on pain intensity (PI), occurrence and control of negative thoughts in response to pain (OCNT) and quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer patients who were experiencing physical pain. A pretest post-test control group quasi- experimental research design was utilised. Ninety patients with breast cancer who were; experiencing physical pain were randomly assigned to three groups. Experimental group I received training in relaxation and guided imagery, white experimental group II had training in cognitive restructuring, in addition to relaxation and guided imagery. The control group received no CBT. The effects of CBT were tested on PI, OCNT and QOL, both among the three groups an between the two experimental groups, using Analysis of Variance and T-test, respectively. Subjects who received CBT experienced low PI than the control group. They perceived significantly fewer OCNT, and their health related QOL were better enhanced as compared with those who received no CBT. .The subjects in experimental group II who had an additional benefit of cognitive restructuring training experienced fewer OCNT than those in experimental group I. There was no significant difference in PI and QOL between experimental groups I and II. The results indicated that CBT plays a significant role in the control of cancer pain