The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Progressive Muscular Relaxation and Music Therapy on the Sleep Quality of Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract Aim and The breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women and low quality of sleep is one of the most common complications experienced by patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy methods on sleep quality of breast cancer patients. Methods and Materials: Research method of this study was experimental and its’ design was pre-test and post-test on multi groups. The population of this study were the total number of females who suffer from breast cancer and were introduced themselves to Shafaparto Clinic in Ardabil province in order to radiotherapy from 2011 September until 2012 April. The samples were selected using accessible sampling, and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used for data collection. The data were analyzed by chi square and analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). Results showed that both treatment methods were effective in promotion of sleep quality in cancer patients (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of these two treatment methods on all quality sleep components (p<0.05), with the exception of sleep disturbance component (p>0.05). It is advised that the therapists used the progressive muscles relaxation and music therapy techniques, along with the routine interventions, in order to promote sleep quality in cancer patients. Keywords: Progressive Muscles Relaxation, Music Therapy, Sleep Quality, Breast Cancer.