BACKGROUND: Patients with gynecologic cancer frequently experience insomnia, fatigue, and emotional distress after chemotherapy, which adversely affect their recovery and quality of life. Light intervention may offer a simple and effective nonpharmacological approach to symptom relief. However, evidence regarding its benefits in patients with gynecologic cancer remains limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to examine the effects of light intervention in alleviating insomnia severity, fatigue, and emotional distress in patients with gynecologic cancer postchemotherapy. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was utilized in this study. Ninety-four women with gynecologic cancer who completed chemotherapy were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan and randomly allocated to an experimental or control group. Baseline measurements included demographic/disease questionnaires, the Insomnia Severity Index, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Distress Thermometer. The intervention group received 30 to 40 minutes of daily light intervention for 4 weeks; the control group maintained usual routines. Follow-up assessments were conducted at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 postintervention. Data were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations method. RESULTS: Compared with controls, participants in the light intervention group exhibited significantly greater reductions in insomnia severity, fatigue, and emotional distress over the 4-week period (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Light intervention is a safe, low-risk, and cost-effective approach to reducing symptoms in patients with gynecologic cancer following chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY NURSING PRACTICE: Incorporation of light intervention into oncology nursing care protocols and patient education may enhance symptom relief, support circadian regulation, and promote overall well-being in this patient population.
Hsu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.