The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Self-Esteem and Quality of Life in Patients With Stoma

September 29, 2023 updated by: Hatice Merve Alptekin, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)

The Effect of Laughter Therapy on Self-Esteem and Quality of Life in Patients With Stoma:Randomized Controlled Trial

Stoma is a surgical intervention to ensure that body wastes are removed differently from the normal physiological opening. The stoma patient has to cope with complex emotional, social and physical problems associated with this change. Physical health problems (such as stoma), change in body image and negative emotions affect self-esteem and quality of life. Laughing provides mental and physical relaxation with the release of endorphins. Therefore, laughter therapy has an important contribution to increase the well-being of patients.This study was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study to evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on self-esteem and quality of life in patients with stoma.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The total number of individuals with a stoma is thought to be between 725,000 and 1 million (Faqs, 2020). Stoma can cause many physical, social, cognitive and emotional problems in an individual's life. These problems can negatively affect the quality of life of patients with stoma (Karadag et al. 2011).

Self-esteem is an individual's positive or negative evaluation of himself/herself (Ayaz, 2008). This evaluation stems not from the individual's need to feel perfect, but from the need to accept himself and be accepted by others. Physical health problems, changes in body image and negative emotions affect self-esteem.

Laughter is generally considered to be a visual expression of happiness or a feeling of joy, and it occurs with stimuli such as hearing a joke or being tickled. Neurophysiology has shown that laughter is associated with the activation of the lower middle frontal lobe cortex, which produces endorphins (Satish 2012). Laughing provides mental and physical relaxation with the release of endorphins (Farifteh et al. 2014).

Psychological benefits of laughing;

  • Decreases symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress level.
  • Increases self-confidence, hope, energy and strength.
  • Increases memory, creative thinking and problem solving ability.
  • Increases interpersonal relationship and social interaction.
  • Collaboration enhances group identity and solidarity.
  • Strengthens the relationship between the health personnel and the patient.
  • Provides psychological well-being.
  • Increases joy and it's mostly contagious (Ripoll and Casado 2010).

It was found to increase optimism and self-esteem in a study of menopausal women (Cha et al. 2013). As a result of Cho and Oh's (2011) study, it was stated that laughter therapy can be an effective nursing intervention applied to increase the quality of life and recovery in individuals with breast cancer. Although laughing therapy was applied in different patient groups and its positive effects were proven, a study on patients who had undergone surgical intervention could not be reached. This study was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study to evaluate the effect of laughter therapy on self-esteem and quality of life in patients with stoma.

Study Population and Sampling: In the study, in calculating the sample size to be used to measure the effect of laughter therapy on self-esteem and quality of life in patients with stoma, the d value was determined as d = 0.66, α = 0.05 (margin of error), 1-β = 0.95 (power) in the light of academic studies. With the help of the G-power (version 3.1) package program, the number of samples to be included in the study was calculated as 68 people (Yoshikawa et al. 2019). Considering a possible 10% loss in the study, it was decided to include a total of 74 participants, 37 participants in each group.

Randomization: The research was conducted as an open-label, blinded, randomized and controlled experimental study. A simple computer-assisted randomization method was used to distribute the groups homogeneously.

For this purpose, 74 sets were created using the functions available on the "https://www.random.org/integer-sets" website. In each of these sets, there were a total of 8 participants: 4 participants from the experimental group and 4 participants from the control group. The 74 sets created as the next process were shown with 1 number each. "RANDBETWEEN" function was used in Excel. Thus, 10 numbers between 1 and 74 were generated and 10 sets to be used in randomization were randomly determined. 72 patients were randomized in the first 9 sets and 2 patients in the 10th set.

Data Collection Method: Data will be collected by the researcher by calling the participants by phone. WhatsApp video chat method will be applied for the individuals in the experimental group.

Data Collection Tools:

  1. Personal information form (sociodemographic characteristics): With this form, which was prepared by the researcher in line with the literature, it is planned to obtain information about the sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, occupation, etc.) and stoma (diagnosis, stoma type, etc.) of the participants.
  2. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was developed by Morris Rosenberg in 1965. In 1985, The validity and reliability study of the scale, which was translated into Turkish by Dr. Füsun Çetin Çuhadaroğlu, was also conducted by Çuhadaroğlu (Çuhadaroğlu, 1986). This scale consists of 10 questions that measure self-esteem. IThe highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 6.
  3. City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy: The scale was developed by the Hope Center Pain and Palliative Care Research Center in 1995 to evaluate the quality of life of cancer patients. It is a 43-item Likert-type scale revised for individuals with ostomy. The Turkish adaptation and validity-reliability study of the scale was carried out by Erol and Vural (2012).

Intervention:

The first component of intervention is the laughter therapy that is a combination of warm up exercise, deep breathing exercises, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises.

Hand clapping and warm-up exercises: Hands are kept parallel to each other and clapped so that the fingertips touch each other. In order to synchronize the group and increase the energy level of the group, rhythms such as ho-ho, ha-ha-ha are usually added to the clapping.

Deep breathing exercises: Deep breathing exercises are exercises for filling and emptying the lungs, providing physical and mental relaxation. It is applied by breathing through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth.

Childlike acting: One of the purposes of the laughing exercises is that childlike acting comes to life in the mind and helps to laugh. During this exercise, songs can be sung, games can be played, and laughing can be helped with music.

Laughter exercises: yogic laugh exercises (Lion laugh), cheerful laugh exercises (milkshake, hot soup laugh) and physical laughter exercises.

Participants will do laughter therapy with whatsapp group call. It is important for participants to share their images and voices in order to make eye contact and hear the sounds of laughter. Each group will consist of at least 5 people. Each session of laughter therapy will be offered one a weekly and 30-40 minutes each time.

Experimental Group

  • After obtaining permission from the participants, patients will be called by phone and questions will be asked about Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sociodemographic characteristics, City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  • Participants in this group will receive a 4 week of laughter therapy. Laughter therapy will be conducted on whatsapp.
  • After laughter therapy (after 1 month): Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  • After 3 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.

Control Group

  • After obtaining permission from the participants, patients will be called by phone and questions will be asked about Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sociodemographic characteristics, City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  • After 2 weeks: Patients will be called by phone and asked if they have any complaints about their disease.
  • After 1 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  • After 3 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

66

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Nuray Akyüz, Associate Professor
  • Phone Number: 27104 +90 +90 212 404 0300
  • Email: nuray.akyuz@iuc.edu.tr

Study Locations

  • Turkey
    • Sisli
      • Istanbul, Sisli, Turkey, 34360
        • Hatice Merve Alptekin

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being over 18 years old,
  • Being able to understand and speak Turkish,
  • Stoma has been opened at least 6 months ago,
  • To have completed oncological treatments,
  • Having a smart phone or computer,
  • Being able to use a smart phone or computer,
  • Having internet,
  • Being able to use Whatsapp video calling program,
  • Agreeing to participate in the research.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hernia, prolapse of stoma complications or glaucoma disease,
  • Presence of hypertension and heart disease,
  • Abdominal surgery in the last 3 months.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group
  1. After obtaining permission from the participants, patients will be called by phone and questions will be asked about Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sociodemographic characteristics, City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  2. Participants in this group will receive a 4 week of laughter therapy. Laughter therapy will be conducted on whatsapp.
  3. After laughter therapy (after 1 month): Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  4. After 3 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
Behavioral: Laughter Therapy
The first component of intervention is the laughter therapy that is a combination of warm up exercise, deep breathing exercises, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises. Participants will do laughter therapy with whatsapp group call. Each group will consist of at least 5 people. Each session of laughter therapy will be offered one a weekly and 30-40 minutes each time.
No Intervention: Control Group
  1. After obtaining permission from the participants, patients will be called by phone and questions will be asked about Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, sociodemographic characteristics, City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  2. After 2 weeks: Patients will be called by phone and asked if they have any complaints about their disease.
  3. After 1 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.
  4. After 3 month: Patients will be called again by phone to ask questions about the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1 months
This scale, which evaluates the quality of life, consists of 43 items. In this scale, quality of life items are grouped into four sub-dimensions: physical well-being (1-11 items), psychological well-being (12-24 items), social anxiety (25-36 items) and spiritual well-being (37-43 items).
Change from baseline to 1 months
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1 months
This scale consists of 10 questions that measure self-esteem. If the total score from 10 questions is 0-1, it indicates high self-esteem, 2-4 indicates medium, and 5-6 indicates low self-esteem. The highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 6
Change from baseline to 1 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
City of Hope Quality of Life Ostomy
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Changes in patients' longer-term quality of life will be assessed after laughter therapy.
Change from baseline to 3 months
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Changes in patients' longer-term self-esteem will be assessed after laughter therapy.
Change from baseline to 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Nuray Akyüz, Associate Professor, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 6, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 6, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 26, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 31, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

November 1, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 2, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2023

Last Verified

September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-74555795-050.01.04-97020

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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