Cheung, Y.L., Molassiotis, A., & Chang, A.M. (2003). The effect of progressive muscle relaxation training on anxiety and quality of life after stoma surgery in colorectal cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology, 12, 254–266.

To examine progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) in reducing anxiety and improving quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer after stoma surgery

PMRT was provided for 20 minutes along with deep breathing (10 major muscle groups were used, but not valsalva response). Participants received two teaching sessions and practiced at home for 10 weeks. Measurements were taken during hospitalization and 5 and 10 weeks after surgery and intervention.

The study reported on a sample of 59 participants.

The sample was recruited from the department of surgery of two public hospitals in Hong Kong.

A longitudinal randomized controlled trial design was used.

• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Chinese version)
• Quality of Life Index for Colostomy Patients (Chinese translation)
• World Health Organization Quality of Life measure–abbreviated (Hong Kong Chinese version)
• Medical/social/demographic data, including frequency of home practice of PMRT

R-ANOVA indicated there was a significant difference in state-anxiety over the 10 weeks between the two groups (p < 0.01), with the experimental group reporting a significantly lower state-anxiety level than the control group. Also, scores significantly decreased over time (10 weeks) in both groups (p < 0.001), indicating a 43% decrease.

• No baseline assessment was performed preoperatively.
• PMRT is time-consuming and labor intensive.