A Pilot Study of a Relaxation Technique for Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy

This study was designed to determine the effect of a progressive muscle relaxation intervention on nausea and vomiting associated with anticancer chemotherapy. Subjects were 30 hematology patients who were hospitalized and received chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. The results indicated that progressive muscle relaxation lead to statistically significant changes in physiological and muscle conditions and in nausea and vomiting levels. Therefore, this relaxation technique may be an effective nursing intervention method to allay or alleviate nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. For future studies, we suggest using a control group, a homogeneous sample in terms of antiemetic and chemotherapy type and dosage, and the longitudinal following of subjects during chemotherapy.