Authors (including presenting author) :
Li SF(1), Tsim KM(1), Fung TS(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Introduction :
In this pilot program, palliative care patients with cancer who complained of moderate to severe breathlessness would listen to auditory scripts of muscle relaxation technique (MRT) (Cantonese version) with background music recorded in a music player. Under the guidance of physiotherapist, the patients would perform MRT step by step to relax the corresponding muscles so as to release their distress on breathlessness.
Objectives :
To determine the effect of muscle relaxation technique using auditory script for palliative care patients with cancer who complained of breathlessness and distress under physiotherapy breathlessness management.
Methodology :
Physiotherapist assessed all in-patient palliative care patients with cancer who complain of breathlessness at rest from March to June, 2021 and determine if they had the feelings of distress, anxious or panic in breathlessness by asking a direct question (During the past 24 hours, do you feel distressed, anxious or panic in your breathlessness? (在過去的24小時，你會否因你的氣喘而感到困擾、焦慮或惶恐?). Inclusion criterion included (1) patients have moderate to severe breathlessness at rest measured with Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (MBDS) >=3 and (2) patients feel distressed, anxious or panic in breathlessness during the past 24 hours. Exclusion criteria included (1) patients with fever, (2) acute breathing difficulty, (3) severe hearing impairment and language barrier, (4) being mentally incompetent or having severe mental illnesses and (5) declined to participate.
Result & Outcome :
In summary, all of three patients expressed that the MRT script could help them reduce SOB and distress generally but the extent of the effectiveness of MRT was different among different patients. Objectively, the pre- and post-SpO2 and the respiratory rate result were similar, except one patient showed slower respiratory rate in the first and fourth session after receiving MRT.
To conclude, auditory scripts of MRT are simple and cost-effective tool for cancer patients with breathlessness to manage their symptom anytime and anywhere.
