J Med Syst. 2000 Jun; 24(3): 173-82.

Using the bedside wellness system during chemotherapy decreases fatigue and emesis in cancer patients.

Oyama H, Kaneda M, Katsumata N, Akechi T, Ohsuga M.

National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

BACKGROUND: The bedside wellness system (BSW) is effective for decreasing stress and improving mental well-being and should help relieve the side effects and mental disorders of patients during cancer chemotherapy. METHODS: The study was a randomized clinical trial. After giving informed consent, patients were randomly assigned to the BSW intervention or control groups. The patients were given the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) test before the trial to evaluate their emotional baseline. The Cancer Fatigue Scale, which was developed at our institute, and face visual analog scale were used to measure the emotional state and subjective feelings before and after the trial. The degree of emesis was measured using a visual analogue scale after the experience. We set up the system in a room in the outpatient clinic of the National Cancer Center New Hospital Building. RESULTS: The decreases in the fatigue score and emesis score 3-5 days after chemotherapy were statistically significant (both p < 0.05) and carry-over effects were detected. CONCLUSIONS: BSW intervention therapy is an effective way to treat fatigue and emesis. This virtual reality system is a new therapeutic method that can be used in palliative medicine.