The effect of hand-foot exercises on platinum based theraphy induced peripheral neuropathy related pain severity, falls and quality of life in colorectal cancer

The aim of this study, which was conducted in a randomized controlled experimental design, was to determine the effect of hand-foot exercises on platinum-based therapy-induced peripheral neuropathy-related pain severity, falls and quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. The research was carried out in Gülhane Training and Research Hospital Medical Oncology Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit between 25 April and 31 December 2022. The 39 patients in the sample were divided into two groups, 19 interventions and 20 controls, by stratified randomization. As of the first week after the first interview of the study, the patients in the intervention group were given hand and foot exercises, 3 sessions a day, 3 days a week, at home, within the hand-foot exercises program, for 8 weeks. No intervention was applied to the patients in the control group, other than routine treatment and care. In the study, Numerical Pain Scale was used to measure the severity of pain, a Fall Status Monitoring Form to monitor the falling status of the patients, the CIPNAT Scale was used to evaluate the presence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the characteristics of the symptoms, the frequency of experience, the severity and emotional distress it caused, and the state of affecting activities. The EORTC QLQ-C30 Scale and the EORTC QLQ-CR29 Scale were used together to assess quality of life. The data of the research were collected in the first interview, the interviews held in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks. In the study, in terms of pain between the groups; In the interviews conducted at the 4th, 6th and 8th weeks, it was determined that the mean scores given to the Numerical Pain Scale were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05). In the study, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of falls (p>0.05). In the study, it was concluded that the mean scores of all subscales of the CIPNAT Scale, except for the presence of symptoms in the 8th week, were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group of the hand-foot exercises program applied for eight weeks (p<0.05). In the study, it was concluded that the mean scores of functional status, symptom scale, and general well-being, which are subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale that evaluates the general cancer quality of life, were significantly higher in the intervention group at the end of the 8th week compared to the control group, in terms of quality of life among the groups (p<0.05). It was determined that urinary system satisfaction and total scale mean scores of the EORTC QLQ-CR29 subscales evaluating quality of life in colorectal cancer patients were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the use of hand-foot exercises is recommended in patients with colorectal cancer receiving platinum-based therapy to improve chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy-related symptoms, reduce pain severity, and improve overall cancer quality of life.