Development of care program analyzing autonomic nervous function in cancer patients.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15903
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Yamanaka Ryuya 京都府立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20323991)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: がん患者 / 自律神経機能 / ケアプログラム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objective of this study was to assess, using physiological and psychological indices, the effects of mechanical bathing care for patients in the terminal stage of cancer. The heart rate variability analysis method was used to measure autonomic nervous system function. The patients' state of anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), a psychological index, and patients' verbal responses were also collected after mechanical bathing.Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Their sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity did not differ before and after bathing. A significant difference was found between pre- and post-bathing anxiety, as evaluated by STAI (P < 0.0001). Patients were more relaxed after mechanical bathing according to STAI evaluation and their verbal responses.The findings suggest that the method of bathing used in this study is safe and pain-relieving for terminal stage cancer patients.

Free Research Field

臨床腫瘍学