The effectiveness of the self-care program consisted of aromatherapy and exercises for the breast cancer-related lymphedema

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25463419
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2014-2015); Fukushima Medical University (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Arinaga Yoko 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (90620667)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SATO Fumiko 東北大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (40297388)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ISHIDA Takanori 東北大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (00292318) ; KAKAMU Takeyasu 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20452550) ; OHTAKE Tohru 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (50363750) ; KIKUCHI Katsuko 東北大学, 大学病院, 講師 (50250759) ; SATO Akiko 東北大学, 大学病院, 特任助手 (50723912)
• Research Collaborator: SASAKI Rie 東北公済病院 ; FUNAMIZU Mariko 東北公済病院 ; HIRAKAWA Hisashi 東北公済病院 ; KAKUGAWA Yoichiro 宮城県立がんセンター ; KAWAI Masaaki 宮城県立がんセンター
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: リンパ浮腫 / 乳がん / 無作為化比較試験 / セルフケア / エクササイズ / 皮膚保湿 / 相対的体積変化率 / ＱＯＬ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We evaluated the effectiveness of a 10-min self-care program for breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL), which mainly consisted of skin care and simple exercises, in a pilot randomized controlled trial.The duration of self-care was increased in both the intervention group (program group) and the control group (standard care group). In the control group, more than 60% of patients initiated new self-care modalities. Relative volume change and relative oedema volumes in the hand were significantly improved in the intervention group. Skin barrier function in the affected forearm, upper arm and breast were also significantly improved in the intervention group. Skin barrier function in the affected upper arm was significantly improved in the control group. QOL was significantly improved only in the intervention group. These results suggest that our self-care program has the possibility to improve oedema and QOL in BCRL patients.

Free Research Field

看護学