The effects of a positive emotional exercise intervention on the quality of life and psychological well-being in cancer chemotherapy patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a positive emotion-based exercise intervention on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, and mental health status in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 80 patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group, with 40 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine care and were educated about the benefits of exercise, while patients in the experimental group received an additional exercise intervention based on positive emotions. We assessed patients’ quality of life, fatigue, and mental health at the time of recruitment and 12 weeks after the exercise intervention. After the intervention, patients in the experimental group had a higher overall QOL score than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences in body, role, and emotions (p < .05). After the intervention, patients in the experimental group had less fatigue than those in the control group, with statistical differences between the two groups (p = .047). After the intervention, patients in the experimental group had lower scores in depression (p = .008) and anxiety (p = .245) than those in the control group. We found that patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy benefited from an exercise intervention based on positive emotions in terms of improvements in quality of life, fatigue, and mental health status.

Keywords

chemotherapy / exercise / lung cancer / mental health / positive emotions / quality of life

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Precision Medical Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital.