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Published on: August 18, 2023
Effects of complete home-based biofeedback therapy on insomnia disorders in patients with cancer
Hideaki Hasuo1, Keita Mori2, Hiromichi Matsuoka3
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Background:
Professional palliative care for patients with cancer focuses on symptom management.
Methods:
This exploratory, randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the effects of complete home-based heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BFB) using an estimation formula for resonance frequency in managing insomnia disorders among patients with cancer.
Results:
Only 28 patients were included from the initial enrollment of 30 patients from two study sites. Results showed that compared to the control group, the HRV-BFB group improved sleep efficiency from 82.0% (standard deviation: 9.1%) to 87.8% (standard deviation: 7.2%) (p < 0.001) and decreased use of sleeping medication from 88.2% (95% confidence interval, 73.6-95.8) to 51.5% (95% confidence interval, 41.8-61.1) (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
This suggests that complete home-based HRV-BFB using an estimation formula for resonance frequency may be a promising tool for treating insomnia disorders in patients with cancer, potentially improving sleep efficiency and decreasing reliance on sleep medications.
Clinical Trial Registration:
UMIN 000046884. Registered February 11, 2022. https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000053496.
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