Clinical Trial of Mandala Coloring for Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the common side effects of anticancer treatment. Pharmacological treatments may be insufficient in managing CINV. Management of symptoms caused by treatment regimens in the cancer care process is crucial for patients' quality of life and compliance with treatment. This randomized controlled trial was designed to determine the effect of mandala coloring on CINV and patients' comfort levels.

Thirty-eight patients with cancer were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 19) and the control group (n = 19). During and after the chemotherapy treatment, the patients in the intervention group were allowed to paint the mandala templates for a minimum of 30 minutes. Study outcomes were assessed using the Patient Information Form, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Scale, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Antiemetic Tool, and General Comfort Scale Short Form through face-to-face and telephone interviews.

The analyses determined that the severity of acute nausea was significantly lower in the patients in the intervention group than in the control group in the second evaluation (P < .05). The change in the intervention and control groups' first and second evaluation comfort scale scores was statistically different (P < .05). In conclusion, it was observed that mandala coloring decreased the severity of acute nausea and increased the general comfort level in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Mandala coloring can be considered a non-pharmacological, low-cost, convenient, and useful nursing intervention for managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.

NCT05885126.