Published online Jan 15, 2022. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i1.319
Peer-review started: June 10, 2021
First decision: July 16, 2021
Revised: July 30, 2021
Accepted: September 10, 2021
Article in press: September 10, 2021
Published online: January 15, 2022
Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after chemotherapy are often accompanied with cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and cancer-related cognitive dysfunction, which seriously affects the quality of life and recovery during chemotherapy, but there is no effective treatment.
This study sought to find an effective treatment for cognitive impairment and cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy for CRC, and to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for rehabilitation of CRC patients.
This study aimed to explore the effects cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) combined with Baduanjin exercise on CRF, cognitive impairment, and quality of life in patients with CRC after chemotherapy.
Patients with CRC were treated with CBT combined with Baduanjin (experimental group, n = 27) or usual care (control group, n = 28), and then the changes of cancer-related fatigue, cognitive function, quality of life, and P300 amplitude and latency were compared at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo.
Compared with the baseline values, the cancer-related fatigue, cognitive function, quality of life, and P300 amplitude and latency were significantly better in the experimental group at 3 mo (P < 0.01). The cancer-related fatigue, cognitive function, quality of life, and P300 amplitude and latency were significantly better in the experimental group than in the control group (experimental group vs control group at 3/6 mo; P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The quality of life was negatively correlated with cancer-related fatigue and positively correlated with cognitive function.
CBT combined with Baduanjin exercise can improve fatigue and cognitive impairment of CRC patients undergoing chemotherapy, and improve their quality of life. The quality of life of CRC patients is closely related to their CRF and cognitive level. CBT combined with exercise intervention is worth promoting in the postoperative rehabilitation of cancer patients.
This study contributes to the rehabilitation of cognitive impairment and cancer-related fatigue in patients with colorectal cancer after chemotherapy. To confirm and validate the results of this study, a larger scale prospective study would be helpful.