ABSTRACT
Background: Surgery is an essential treatment for early-stage breast cancer. However, various side effects of breast cancer surgery, such as arm dysfunction and lymphedema, remain causes for concern. Rehabilitation exercises to prevent such side effects should be initiated within 24 hours after surgery. Virtual reality (VR) can assist the process of rehabilitation; however, the feasibility of applying VR for rehabilitation must be explored, in addition to experiences of this application. Objective: This study explored patients' attitudes toward and experiences of using VR for their rehabilitation to determine the feasibility of such VR use and to identify potential barriers. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted from September to December 2021. A total of 18 patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgical treatment were interviewed using open-ended questions. The Colaizzi 7-step procedure for phenomenological analysis was used for data analysis. To ensure high study reliability, this study followed previously reported quality criteria for trustworthiness. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) VR was powerful in facilitating rehabilitation, (2) early and repetitive upper limb movements were an advantage of VR rehabilitation, and (3) extensive VR use had challenges to be overcome. Most of the interviewed patients reported positive experiences of using VR for rehabilitation. Specifically, VR helped these patients identify appropriate motion and angle limits while exercising; in other words, knowledge gained through VR can play a key role in the rehabilitation process. In addition, the patients reported that the use of VR provided them company, similar to when a physiotherapist is present. Finally, the gamified nature of the VR system seemed to make VR-based rehabilitation more engaging than traditional rehabilitation, particularly with respect to early rehabilitation; however, the high cost of VR equipment made VR-based rehabilitation difficult to implement at home. Conclusions: The interviewed patients with breast cancer had positive experiences in using VR for rehabilitation. The high cost of both VR equipment and software development presents a challenge for applying VR-based rehabilitation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The fatigue and symptom distress of cancer patients have been researched extensively. However, few studies have focused on the fatigue and symptom distress experienced by hepatic cancer patients following tran-scatheter arterial embolization (TAE) treatment. PURPOSE: This study explores the levels of symptom distress and fatigue in hepatic cancer patients and related factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used purposive sampling to recruit 100 hepatic cancer patients who had received TAE treatment from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from the first, second, and third days following the TAE treatment. RESULTS: Notable reductions in fatigue and symptom distress levels were observed in post-TAE-treatment patients. The 5 main symptoms were abdominal pain, fatigue, sleeplessness, fever, and abdominal distention. Factors identified as influencing the level of fatigue were marital status, family members' accompaniment during the TAE treatment, physical performance status, age, and symptom distress. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Physicians treating hepatic cancer patients should better explain to patients the symptoms and fatigue associated with TAE treatment. Physicians should also provide interventions that may reduce the related symptoms, fatigue levels, and mental distress.
