Study (2020): Effect of weighted blankets on anxiety during chemotherapy
Weighted blankets are used as aids to relieve anxiety in many patient groups by providing deep touch pressure. Cancer patients can develop anxiety related to the diagnosis and treatments, such as chemotherapy. So far, there are only a few studies on the effectiveness of weighted blankets as aids to relieve anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy.
This study examined the effectiveness of a therapeutic weighted blanket on the anxiety of patients receiving their first and second chemotherapy infusions at an outpatient infusion center.
A randomized controlled study was conducted with 58 new patients at an outpatient chemotherapy infusion center. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two study groups (they received the weighted blanket during their first infusion or they received the weighted blanket during their second infusion). Anxiety was measured using a self-assessment questionnaire about their anxiety and a visual analog scale.
In patients receiving chemotherapy, anxiety was reduced through the use of the weighted blanket. The results show that a therapeutic weighted blanket of medical quality with standard weight can be safely used to reduce anxiety in patients of varying weights, and that a visual analog scale can be a reliable indicator of patients' anxiety levels.
Source:
Vinson, J., Powers, J., & Mosesso, K. (2020). Weighted Blankets: Anxiety Reduction in Adult Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 24(4), 360–368. https://doi.org/10.1188/20.CJON.360-368
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