Effect of designed exercise program on stress, anxiety and depression i-n women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy

Background and aim: Fear of death, lack of knowledge and fear of treatment and its complications, lack of assurance of recovery, possibility of occurrence of problems in their family are predisposing factors in occurrence and intensity of psychological reactions such as stress, anxiety and depression in the women with breast cancer. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the effect of designed exercise program on stress, anxiety and depression in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This quasi–experimental study was conducted on a total of 56 women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy, refereed to Imam Khomeini hospital of Tehran in 2006. Using DASS-21 and demographic questionnaires, data were collected. The patients in experimental group used the designed exercise program at home for 20 to 30 minutes every day, for 3 to 5 days per week for 9 weeks (3 cycles of chemotherapy). In control group, the routine helps were conducted. All patients were followed up. Data were analyzed using X2 and t test. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the cases of demographic characteristics, cancer stage, and method of surgery. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the cases of stress, anxiety, and depression, before intervention. However, following intervention, the mean of stress, in the case and control groups were 7.25±4.42 and 10.82±5.46 for anxiety were 4.07±2.72 and 7.07±4.8, was and for depression were 3.82±8.83 and 7.32±5.12, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the results, the designed exercise program was effective to reduce stress, anxiety and depression in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy in this research