The effect of Benson’s relaxation response on sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial

Background and objectivesPatients with cancer experience many side effects due to its nature and usual treatments. Sleep disorders and anorexia are the most commonly reported symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Benson's Relaxation Response (BRR) on sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Methodology and participantsIn the present clinical trial, a total of 84 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. Benson's relaxation response was administered to the experimental group twice a day over 5 consecutive days. Data was collected using St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ) and anorexia questionnaire with Visual Analog Scale (VAS).ResultsThe results of our study showed a significant improvement in the sleep quality in the experimental group at 24 (p = 0.02) and 48 (p = 0.001) hours after the intervention compared to the control group. Benson's relaxation response (BRR) also had a significant effect on the anorexia in the experimental group at 24 (7.5 ± 1.6) and 48 (6.9 ± 2.1) hours after the intervention compared to the control group. No side effects were reported during the study and follow-up period.ConclusionBenson's relaxation response as a complementary method may improve sleep quality and anorexia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Further studies with greater sample size and longer follow-up period are needed to confirm the current findings.     

A Preliminary Study of Negative Self-Beliefs in Anorexia Nervosa: A Detailed Exploration of Their Content, Origins and Functional Links to “Not Eating Enough” and Other Characteristic Behaviors

Objective: The study explored the semantic content and origins of negative self-beliefs, and their functional links to “not eating enough” and other behaviors, in participants with anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: Fifteen women meeting DSM-IV criteria for AN were compared with 17 dieting and 18 non-dieting women matched on age and number of years of education. The main outcome measure was a semi-structured interview. Results: Six themes were identified in the beliefs of participants with AN. These were, in order of decreasing frequency, powerlessness (present in all but three AN participants), failure, defectiveness, unattractiveness, worthlessness and emptiness. Importantly, powerlessness and failure beliefs were consistently present independent of Beck Depression Inventory-II scores. The negative early life experiences associated with these beliefs had high distress and responsibility ratings. Participants with AN reported that they employed specific behaviors, particularly ‘not eating enough,’ and ‘placating others,’ to try to reduce the cognitive and emotional impact of their negative self-beliefs. Discussion: The findings are discussed in relation to the role of powerlessness and the function of “not eating enough” in cognitive theory and therapy for AN.

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早孕妇女人工流产方式意向的临床调查研究

人工流产(简称人流)是各种避孕失败的主要补救措施,目前早孕妇女人流的主要方式有吸刮术与药物流产两种。本文通过对天津市黄河医院意外早孕妇女选择人流方式意向的临床调查研究,探讨现阶段该两种人流方式的可接受性,结果:1000例早孕妇女中选择药物流产(简称药流)者666例(66.6％),吸刮术者334例(33.4％)。本组选择人流方式的理由,其中519例(51.9％)认为药流痛苦少,占第一位,认为手术干脆而选择吸刮术的217例(21.7％),占第二位,其它依次为吸刮术费用低、药流不必手术、吸刮术流产完全、药流不需请假、吸刮术出血时间短、药流安全、吸刮术副作用少、药流保密。药流是近年来使用的流产新方法,本组研究资料及意向选择只反映现阶段早孕妇女的接受状况。     

Mifepristone-induced abortion and birth weight in the first subsequent pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of a medically induced abortion (MA) on birth weight in the first subsequent pregnancy. METHODS: Pregnant women who had had a MA, a surgical abortion (SA), or primigravidas with no history of abortion (NA), were recruited for a prospective cohort study between July 1998 and February 2001. The sample for the present analysis included 12995 singleton live births at term. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of low birth weight (LBW) was 1.0%. The rates of LBW in the MA, SA, and NA groups were 1.0%, 0.9%, and 1.2, respectively. There were no significant differences in LBW rates between the MA and SA groups, neither between the MA and NA. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of MA on birth weight, and we found no relationship between risk of LBW and MA. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a statistically significant relationship between a history of one medically induced abortion and LBW for the first subsequent term pregnancy.     

79例人流术后支原体感染分析

７９例人流术后支原体感染分析陆海音，杨红英，周曾娣，张明秋，汤国民Ａｎａｌｙｓｉｓｏｆｋｙｃｏｐｌａｓｍａｓｉｎｆｅｃｔｉｏｎｓｉｎ７９ｗｏｍｅｎｗｉｔｈｉｎｄｕｃｅｉａｂｏｒｔｉｏｎＬｕＨａｉ－ｙｉｎ，ｙａｎｇＨｏｎｇ－ｙｉｎ，ＺｈｏｕＺｅｎｇ－ｄ...     

Induced abortion in China and the advances of post abortion family planning service

<正>This is a review of current situation of induced abortion and post abortion family planning service in China. Induced abortion is an important issue in reproductive health. This article reviewed the distribution of induced abortion in various time, areas, and population in China, and explored the character, reason, and harm to reproductive health of induced abortion. Furthermore, this article introduces the concept of Quality of Care Program in Family Planning, and discusses how important and necessary it is to introduce Quality of Care Program in Family Planning to China.     

569名未婚女性人工流产原因分析

目的:了解未婚人流女性特征,分析其人流原因。方法:采用分层整群多阶段抽样方法,以统一匿名调查表,由统一培训的专业医生对2004年10月~2005年5月在16个抽样单位行人流术的全部未婚女性进行调查。结果:569名调查对象平均年龄20.5岁,伴侣平均年龄23.8岁,月均性生活次数7.4次,33%的被调查者有既往怀孕史。本次人流原因主要为未避孕(71.7%),其原因主要是侥幸心理、不懂避孕和怕麻烦。避孕套是被调查者中知晓率和使用率最高的避孕方法。以百分制计算,被调查者避孕方法和知识的得分分别为60.4分和64.8分,其避孕知识主要来自媒体。结论:未婚女性性活跃、意外妊娠风险认识低、性和生殖健康知识贫乏,应加强未婚人群的性观念和性行为道德教育,根据其年龄和心理特征,提供相关的生殖健康知识和服务,并加强对媒体相关宣传的规范管理。