|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
Non-pharmacological intervention for breathlessness in lung cancer
J. Corner
Director, Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care Studies, Institute of Cancer Research, London
H. Plant
Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care Studies, Institute of Cancer Research, London
R. A'Hern
Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London
C. Bailey
Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care Studies, Institute of Cancer Research, London
Objective - To evaluate the effect of non-pharmacological intervention for breathlessness in lung cancer on breathlessness ratings and patient functioning.
Design - Randomised controlled pilot study.
Setting - A nurse led clinic in a specialist cancer centre.
Subjects - 20 patients with advanced small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.
Intervention - Weekly sessions with a nurse research practitioner over 3-6 weeks using counselling, breathing re-training, relaxation and teaching coping and adaptation strategies.
Main outcome measures - Visual analogue scale ratings of breathlessness, distress caused by breathlessness, functional capacity, ability to perform activities of daily living and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Results - Improvements in median scores on all measures were observed in the intervention group with the exception of depression, compared with the control group where median scores were static or worsened. Distress from breathlessness was improved by a median of 53%, breathlessness at worst by 35% and functional capacity by 21 %. In contrast, distress in the control group worsened by a median of 10%. Significant improvements compared with the control group were observed in breathlessness at best (p < 0.02), breathlessness at worst (p < 0.05), distress caused by breathlessness (p < 0.01), functional capacity (p < 0.02) and ability to perform activities of daily living (p < 0.03) but were not observed for anxiety or depression.
Conclusion - Lung cancer patients suffering from breathlessness benefited from this rehabilitative approach to breathlessness management and strategies employed in this pilot study warrant further multicentre research. Macmillan nurses and palliative care teams are recommended to explore the potential of adopting similar approaches.
Key Words: breathing exercises • dyspnoea • lung neoplasms • nursing intervention (non-MeSH) • rehabilitation
Palliative Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 4,
299-305 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/026921639601000405
 CiteULike  Complore  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
D. Currow, M Agar, J Smith, and A. Abernethy
Does palliative home oxygen improve dyspnoea? A consecutive cohort study
Palliative Medicine,
June 1, 2009;
23(4):
309 - 316.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I Zhao and P Yates
Non-pharmacological interventions for breathlessness management in patients with lung cancer: a systematic review
Palliative Medicine,
September 1, 2008;
22(6):
693 - 701.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Ben-Aharon, A. Gafter-Gvili, M. Paul, L. Leibovici, and S. M. Stemmer
Interventions for Alleviating Cancer-Related Dyspnea: A Systematic Review
J. Clin. Oncol.,
May 10, 2008;
26(14):
2396 - 2404.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. N. Lanken, P. B. Terry, H. M. DeLisser, B. F. Fahy, J. Hansen-Flaschen, J. E. Heffner, M. Levy, R. A. Mularski, M. L. Osborne, T. J. Prendergast, et al.
An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Policy Statement: Palliative Care for Patients with Respiratory Diseases and Critical Illnesses
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
April 15, 2008;
177(8):
912 - 927.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Kvale, P. A. Selecky, and U. B. S. Prakash
Palliative Care in Lung Cancer: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd Edition)
Chest,
September 1, 2007;
132(3_suppl):
368S - 403S.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Connors, S. Graham, and T. Peel
An evaluation of a physiotherapy led non-pharmacological breathlessness programme for patients with intrathoracic malignancy
Palliative Medicine,
June 1, 2007;
21(4):
285 - 287.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A Seamark, C. J Seamark, and D. M G Halpin
Palliative care in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review for clinicians
J R Soc Med,
May 1, 2007;
100(5):
225 - 233.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E A. Mohide
Review: non-invasive interventions improve symptoms and psychological functioning in patients with lung cancer
Evid. Based Nurs.,
April 1, 2005;
8(2):
56 - 56.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hately, V. Laurence, A. Scott, R. Baker, and P. Thomas
Breathlessness clinics within specialist palliative care settings can improve the quality of life and functional capacity of patients with lung cancer
Palliative Medicine,
July 1, 2003;
17(5):
410 - 417.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Kvale, M. Simoff, and U. B. S. Prakash
Palliative Care
Chest,
January 1, 2003;
123
(2009):
284S - 311S.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Froggatt, J. Corner, and M. Bredin
Dissemination and utilization of an intervention to manage breathlessness: Letting go or letting down?
Journal of Research in Nursing,
May 1, 2002;
7(3):
223 - 231.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S Booth and L Adams
The shuttle walking test: a reproducible method for evaluating the impact of shortness of breath on functional capacity in patients with advanced cancer
Thorax,
February 1, 2001;
56(2):
146 - 150.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Plant, M. Bredin, M. Krishnasamy, and J. Corner
Working with resistance, tension and objectivity: Conducting a randomised controlled trial of a nursing intervention for breathlessness
Journal of Research in Nursing,
November 1, 2000;
5(6):
426 - 434.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Heyse-Moore, T. Beynon, and V. Ross
Does spirometry predict dyspnoea in advanced cancer?
Palliative Medicine,
April 1, 2000;
14(3):
189 - 195.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. S. Morrison, A. L. Siu, R. M. Leipzig, C. K. Cassel, and D. E. Meier
The Hard Task of Improving the Quality of Care at the End of Life
Arch Intern Med,
March 27, 2000;
160(6):
743 - 747.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Bredin, J. Corner, M. Krishnasamy, H. Plant, C. Bailey, and R. A'Hern
Multicentre randomised controlled trial of nursing intervention for breathlessness in patients with lung cancer
BMJ,
April 3, 1999;
318(7188):
901 - 901.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Zeppetella
The palliation of dyspnea in terminal disease
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine,
November 1, 1998;
15(6):
322 - 330.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
