Authors & Institutions:

• S. H. Kim, Y. H. Kim – Department of Nursing, ASAN Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• H. J. Kim – Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Study Timeline & Location:

• Conducted at ASAN Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
• Patient recruitment: September – October 2008
• Study published in 2015

Background & Rationale:

• The survival rate of breast cancer patients has increased, raising concerns about quality of life.
• Psychological distress (anxiety, depression, stress) is highly prevalent among breast cancer patients.
• In Korea, 44% of cancer patients experience depression, while 21% experience anxiety.
• Laughter Therapy has been known to have positive effects on mental and physical health but lacks rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for cancer patients.

Objectives of the Study:

1. Primary Objective:
   • Evaluate the impact of a Therapeutic Laughter Program (TLP) on anxiety, depression, and stress in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
2. Secondary Objective:
   • Determine whether the number of laughter therapy sessions attended influences the effects.

Study Design & Methodology:

• Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
• Participants: 60 breast cancer patients undergoing postoperative radiotherapy

 

• Groups:
  • Experimental Group (Laughter Therapy): 31 patients
  • Control Group (No Therapy): 29 patients

Intervention: Therapeutic Laughter Program (TLP)

• Conducted by: Licensed laughter therapy trainer
• Duration: 4 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes
• Components:
  • Prolonged, intentional laughter exercises
  • Breathing techniques
  • Educational content on the benefits of laughter
  • Playful activities to encourage laughter

Measurement Tools:

• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) (0–10 scale) – Self-reported scores for anxiety, depression, and stress
• Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) – Standardized measure for anxiety and depression
• Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean version (BEPSI-K) – Standardized measure for stress

Statistical Analysis:

• SPSS software (version 18.0) used for analysis
• Mann-Whitney U test, ANCOVA, and Spearman’s correlation for data evaluation

Results & Findings:

• Laughter Therapy Group experienced a significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and stress.
• Control Group showed no significant change.

• Even after just one session of laughter therapy, there was a significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and stress.
• More sessions led to greater benefits, but most improvement happened after the first session.

Discussion & Implications:

• The Therapeutic Laughter Program can be a quick, non-invasive, and effective intervention for improving mental well-being in breast cancer patients.
• The study suggests that even one session of Laughter Therapy can provide immediate relief.
• Compared to standard psychological assessments, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is a simpler and quicker tool for busy outpatient settings.
• Future research should investigate the long-term effects of Laughter Therapy.

Conclusion:

• Laughter Therapy significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and stress in breast cancer patients.
• It is a simple, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement complementary therapy.
• Medical professionals should consider using laughter therapy to improve patients' emotional well-being.

Research Study Link

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1155/2015/864739