Effect of Laughter Therapy on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life

Effect of Laughter Therapy on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer: An Assessor-blinded, Parallel Group, Randomized Controlled Trial

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer seen in women worldwide and ranks first. Chemotherapy is one of the commonly used methods of treatment in breast cancer. Physiological and psychological symptoms that occur due to chemotherapy treatment affect women negatively and reduce their quality of life. For this reason, there is a need for an intervention that could decrease psychological symptoms such as stress and improve quality of life in women with breast cancer. In the literature, it is stated that laughter therapy which is one of the non-pharmacological methods, can be an effective nursing intervention to decrease stress and improve the quality of life in women with breast cancer.

This an assessor-blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial aimed that investigating the effect of laughter therapy on perceived stress and quality of life in women with breast cancer.This trial was conducted in the chemotherapy outpatient clinic of training and research hospital located in Turkey. All patients were women with breast cancer who received a once-weekly Paclitaxel regimen.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and older women,
• Stages II or III breast cancer
• Receiving Pacitaxel chemotherapy regimen per a week

Exclusion Criteria:

• Using any complementary and alternative (CAM) treatment method during practice
• Having psychological diseases