Análise da qualidade de vida em mulheres com câncer de mama em tratamento clínico oncológico submetidas a auriculoterapia

Abstract

Analyze the impairments in the quality of life of women with breast cancer (BC) undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy, and the effectiveness of auriculotherapy (AA) in improving the adverse effects of cancer treatment. Methodology: Experimental, interventional and analytical before-and-after study, with a quantitative approach. It was composed of women with BC undergoing treatment from the Regional Hospital do Oeste of Chapecó-SC and who agreed to undergo the AA protocol. To perform the AA sessions, the participants were divided into two groups - Group 01 (n=23) with weekly application of AA, and Group 02 (n=32) with AA every 21 days. For data collection, the EORTC QLQ-C30 - version 3.0 quality of life questionnaires were applied, together with its specific module for BC, the EORTC QLQ-BR23, before and after the four AA sessions. Results: On the functional scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, AA showed improvement in emotional function in Group 01 (p=0.011) and in Group 02 (p=0.005). Also, there were benefits in the cognitive aspect (p=0.039) and physical function (p=0.025) in Group 02. As for the symptom scale, in Group 01 there was a difference in the nausea/vomiting symptom (p=0.023) and loss of appetite ( p=0.025), while in Group 02 insomnia (p=0.039) and constipation (p=0.028) had positive results. Regarding the EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaire, Group 01 benefited from hair loss (p=0.028), while sexual pleasure was representative in Group 02 (p=0.006). Future perspectives had beneficial results in Group 1 (p=0.011) and in Group 2 (p<0.001). Conclusion: AA proved to be an effective and safe therapeutic tool, with an improvement in general well-being and a decrease in adverse symptoms arising from the clinical treatment of BC. It is clear, therefore, that this practice can help improve the quality of life of patients through the use of non-pharmacological and complementary health measures.