‘Open Window’: a randomized trial of the effect of new media art using a virtual window on quality of life in patients' experiencing stem cell transplantation

Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ALLO-HSCT) is a potentially curative approach to treat β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Objective and Methods: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with β-TM after ALLO-HSCT, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Medline for articles on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with β-TM from 1 Feb 2020 to 31 Mar 2020. Results: Our review revealed that the QOL of patients with β-TM after ALLO-HSCT from a sibling donor is higher than that of patients that received blood infusion and iron-chelating therapy. Survivors of ALLO-HSCT have a QOL as good as that of a healthy population and the ability to return to normal life. However, studies thus far are limited to investigations with a few patients with β-TM who received ALLO-HSCT of the bone marrow (BM) from a sibling donor or related donor. Graft vs. host disease, patient age, gender, sexual desire, health condition, psychological state, financial and employment stress, and social support contributed to a worse QOL after ALLO-HSCT. Medicine usage, physical therapy, and psychological intervention may help improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT in patients with β-TM. Conclusion: Doctors and nurses must focus on implementing medicine usage, physical therapy and psychological intervention to improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT.

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Effects of a partly self-administered exercise program before, during, and after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2010-09-306308 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 117 (9) ◽

pp. 2604-2613 ◽

Cited By ~ 135

Author(s):

Joachim Wiskemann ◽

Peter Dreger ◽

Rainer Schwerdtfeger ◽

Andrea Bondong ◽

Gerhard Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Transplantation ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Cell Transplantation ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Psychologic Distress

Abstract Before, during, and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), patients experience considerable physical and psychologic distress. Besides graft-versus-host disease and infections, reduced physical performance and high levels of fatigue affect patients' quality of life. This multicenter randomized controlled trial examined the effects of a partly self-administered exercise intervention before, during, and after allo-HSCT on these side effects. After randomization to an exercise and a social contact control group 105 patients trained in a home-based setting before hospital admission, during inpatient treatment and a 6- to 8-week period after discharge. Fatigue, physical performance, quality of life, and physical/psychologic distress were measured by standardized instruments at baseline, admission to, and discharge from hospital and 6 to 8 weeks after discharge. The exercise group showed significantly improvement in fatigue scores (up to 15% improvement in exercise group vs up to 28% deterioration in control; P < .01-.03), physical fitness/functioning (P = .02-.03) and global distress (P = .03). All effects were at least detectable at one assessment time point after hospitalization or repeatedly. Physical fitness correlated significantly with all reported symptoms/variables. In conclusion, this partly supervised exercise intervention is beneficial for patients undergoing allo-HSCT. Because of low personnel requirements, it might be valuable to integrate such a program into standard medical care.

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