Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Anxiety and Comfort of Turkish Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world and by far the most frequent cancer among women. Objective: This study was conducted to observe the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on anxiety and comfort level of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: A control group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental model was applied with experimental (30) and control (30) groups, who agreed to participate in this study. Data collection was with the "Personnel Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and General Comfort Scale". Results: The average age of the patients that participated in the study was $49.1{\pm}7.96$ years. Eighty-three point three percent (n=25) of the patients in the experiment group and 86.7 (n=26) percent of patients in control group were married. Patient state of anxiety post-test mean scores were $36.2{\pm}8.21$ in the experimental group and $43.4{\pm}7.96$ in the control group, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). The general comfort scale post-test mean scores were $149.5{\pm}13.9$ in the experimental group and $137.7{\pm}15.0$ in the control group, again statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: Progressive relaxation exercises positively affect patient comfort and anxiety levels in Turkey.