Well-being biomarkers and psychological functioning of adult patients during chemotherapy treatment: the effects of hospital clowns and hosting conditions

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPharmacological oncological treatments interfere with the patient’s quality of life on physical, psychological, and social dimensions. Besides all the care in hosting conditions, hospital clowns (HCs) use artistic sketches aiming to reduce distress, but studies analyzing their effects on biomarkers in association with psychological states are scarce. This study examined biomarkers and psychological functioning related to its effects, in adult patients of an ambulatory chemotherapy hospital setting.MethodsFollowing a pilot study with pre-testing/post-testing, 64 women were analysed: experimental group (EG; n=36; HCs intervention plus hosting conditions)versuscontrol group (CG; n=28; hosting conditions). Oxytocin, cortisol, serotonin and ATP saliva levels were measured. Psychological assessment covered positive and negative affect (PA; NA), emotional states (PESS), mindfulness attention’ quality (CAMS-R), cognitive functioning (CDT) and satisfaction with HCs.ResultsData did not reveal statistically significant differences in biomarkers between groups; EG showed improvements in psychological functioning, in which NA had significantly decreased, compared to CG; PESS and CAMS-R have also improved. Association analyses suggest a role of serotonin in moderating the relationship between (PA&scholarity)&CAMS-R with NA&age; serotonin and ATP changes are more related to psychological features; PESS seems to modulate those relationships in EG.ConclusionsAlthough similar results were found for the two groups in study, concerning biomarkers, the psychological functioning showed that short-term interventions during ambulatory chemotherapy might increase well-being of adult cancer patients. Certainly, a larger sample is needed, both to ascertain salivary biomarkers variations and psychological benefits, but this study is undoubtedly pioneer.