Search

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, which reduces the quality of life and causes depression. The present study was conducted with aim to compare the effect of acupressure and aromatherapy on depression and quality of life of breast cancer patients. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 96 women with breast cancer who visited the clinic or chemotherapy unit at Baqiyatullah and Shahid Chamran hospitals in Tehran were randomly assigned to three groups: aromatherapy, acupressure, and control. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire for assessing the quality of life in breast cancer patients and Beck's depression questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 21) and ANOVA and paired t-test. Results: In terms of quality of life, both in functional and symptomatic dimensions, the aromatherapy and acupressure groups had significantly better performance than the control group (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, both the aromatherapy and acupressure groups demonstrated a significant reduction in depression scores compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Aromatherapy and acupressure significantly improve quality of life and reduce depression in patients with breast cancer. These interventions can be utilized as complementary methods in managing the physical and psychological symptoms of these patients. Further research with larger sample size is needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and explore the broader applicability of these approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: While being diagnosed with breast cancer can cause psychological disturbances for patients and decrease their quality of life, resilience can evidently act as a protective factor. The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between anxiety, depression, and quality of life among women with breast cancer by considering the mediating role of resilience. Materials and Methods: In the present descriptive study, 92 female patients with breast cancer admitted in Seyedoshohada Hospital, Isfahan, were selected through convenience sampling. The participants filled out cancer patient Quality of life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and Block & Kremen Ego Resiliency Scale. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including Pearson product -moment correlation and hierarchical regression analysis were used in SPSS (version 22) to analyze the data. Results: The mean of anxiety was 10.81±3.46, the mean of depression was 8.56±4.04, the mean of resilience was 45.57±8.89, and the mean of quality of life was 62.95±18.46. The results indicated that there wasa statistically significant relationship between these patients' quality of life and their depression (r=-0.74, p<.001), anxiety (r=-0.60, p<.001), and resilience (r=0.45, p<.001). The hierarchical regression analysis results showed that resilience had a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and depression, in one hand, and the quality of life, in the other hand, among these patients. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression can decrease breast cancer patients' quality of life. However, resilience can moderate this effect. Hence, it seems along with medical treatments, appropriate psychological interventions by psychologists, nurses, and social workers for enhancing resilience can have a significant role in improving breast cancer patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]