Overview
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a guided imagery intervention in women receiving chemotherapy for gynecological cancers at Başkent University Ankara Hospital Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does guided imagery improve psychological or physical outcomes during chemotherapy? How do outcomes differ between the intervention (guided imagery) and control (standard information) groups?
Researchers will compare both groups to assess the effect of guided imagery across three repeated measurements.
Participants will:
- Be randomly assigned (1:1) to intervention or control groups via an online randomization tool.
- Complete outcome assessments at three time points.
- Be part of a sample of 158 women (minimum 76 per group), based on power analysis for repeated measures ANOVA (effect size f = 0.25, 95% power, 95% confidence).
The study will follow the CONSORT-Outcomes 2022 guideline and be registered at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Description
Gynecological cancers are among the most common cancers in women after breast cancer. According to GLOBOCAN (2022), 1.3 million new gynecological cancer cases were reported worldwide. In Turkey, the incidence of female reproductive organ cancers is 23.8%, with endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers being the most common.
Treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, with platinum-based chemotherapy regimens widely preferred. However, chemotherapy causes numerous side effects such as nausea-vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and decreased quality of life. Complementary and alternative medicine approaches have been reported as effective in managing these symptoms.
One mind-body based complementary method, guided imagery, aims to help individuals achieve relaxation, cope with stress, and experience physical comfort through mental imagery. Developed by Lerner, this technique uses themes such as "meadow, mountain, stream, home, and close relative." Guided imagery has shown positive effects like reducing stress, enhancing immunity, alleviating nausea-vomiting, and improving quality of life.
Studies have demonstrated that guided imagery is effective in symptom management and improving psychological well-being especially in breast and gynecological cancer patients. However, research investigating the effect of this technique during chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients is limited.
This study is designed to evaluate the effects of guided imagery on nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for gynecological cancers.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Having a diagnosis of another type of cancer
- An ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance score of ≥3 (PS 3: Confined to bed for more than half of the day, limited self-care; PS 4: Completely bedridden, unable to perform self-care)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Choosing to withdraw from the study
- Refusing to practice guided imagery before chemotherapy treatment
