Investigation of State and Trait Anxiety in Oncology Patients ReceivingTherapeutic Massage During Chemotherapy

Abstract

Anxiety is common among cancer patients and can affect a patient's treatment compliance, symptoms relating to treatment, and one’s quality of life. Depression and anxiety can also cause patients to not want to receive anticancer treatments, which can have a negative effect on survival rates, one’s diagnosis, and continued treatment plan. Anxiety was measured using Charles Spielberger’s STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) anxiety model, which compares State Anxiety (S-Anxiety) and Trait Anxiety (T-Anxiety). S-Anxiety is defined as an emotional state due to a stressor. T-Anxiety is when one feels anxiety or stress as a result of fear. The purpose of this study was to investigate if first-time cancer patients receiving a shoulder massage during chemotherapy would report a reduction in stress and anxiety following the massage. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant reduction in anxiety levels measured before and after chemotherapy for participants receiving a shoulder and neck massage during treatment compared to participants not receiving a massage.