Community-Based Nursing Care for Preoperative Anxiety in Breast Cancer: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i6.2538Keywords:
anxiety, breast cancer, deep breathing relaxation, lavender aromatherapy, older adultAbstract
Preoperative anxiety is a psychological problem frequently experienced by older adults with breast cancer and can affect sleep quality and emotional wellbeing. Lavender aromatherapy combined with deep breathing relaxation may help reduce anxiety, although its application in community-based gerontological nursing care in Indonesia remains limited. To describe community-based nursing care using lavender aromatherapy and deep breathing relaxation in an older adult with breast cancer experiencing preoperative anxiety. A descriptive case study was conducted on a 61-year-old woman with breast cancer awaiting surgery after six chemotherapy cycles. Assessment used the PSQI, GDS-SF, SPMSQ, MNA, Modified Katz Index, and Hendrich II Fall Risk Model, supported by previous evidence of validity and/or reliability. Anxiety was established based on the Indonesian Nursing Diagnosis Standard. The intervention was provided over three home visits, and data were analysed descriptively by comparing the client’s condition across visits. Anxiety verbalisation decreased, eye contact and affective expression improved, sleep duration increased from 5 to 6-7 hours/night, and GDS-SF score decreased from 5 to 3. No side effects occurred. The intervention was associated with improvements in anxiety-related signs and symptoms, emotional wellbeing, and sleep quality and may be considered a complementary non-pharmacological intervention.
References
Almaraz, D., Saiz, J., Moreno Martín, F., Sánchez-Iglesias, I., Molina, A. J., & Goldsby, T. L. (2022). What Aspects of Religion and Spirituality Affect the Physical Health of Cancer Patients? A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/healthcare10081447
Botto, R., De Leonardis, B., Salussolia, A., Di Nardo, C., Ala, A., Torta, R., & Stanizzo, M. R. (2024). Assessment of anxiety, depression, and distress in breast cancer patients: A comparison among different phases of illness. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/07399332.2022.2078325
Bray, F. I., Laversanne, M., Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Soerjomataram, I., & Jemal, A. (2024). Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834
Breidenbach, C., Heidkamp, P., Hiltrop, K., Pfaff, H., Enders, A., Ernstmann, N., & Kowalski, C. (2022). Prevalence and determinants of anxiety and depression in long-term breast cancer survivors. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-022-03735-3
Carlson, L. E., Ismaila, N., Addington, E. L., Asher, G. N., Atreya, C., Balneaves, L. G., Bradt, J., Fuller-Shavel, N., Goodman, J., Hoffman, C. J., Huston, A., Mehta, A., Paller, C. J., Richardson, K., Seely, D., Siwik, C. J., Temel, J. S., & Rowland, J. H. (2023). Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.00857
Cheng, H., Lin, L., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., Liu, T., Yuan, Y., Chen, Q., & Tian, L. (2022). Aromatherapy with single essential oils can significantly improve the sleep quality of cancer patients: a meta-analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-022-03668-0
Dikmeer, A., Burkuk, S., Unsal, P., Polat, M., Balci, C., Halil, M., Cankurtaran, M., & Balam Dogu, B. (2025). A concise instrument for screening cognitive impairment: validation in a geriatric population. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03056-x
Dinkes Jateng. (2022). Laporan Kinerja. https://dinkes.jatengprov.go.id/laporan-kinerja/
Fauzi, A., Ahmedy, F., & Rosidah, R. (2024). Cross-culture adaptation and validation of Indonesian language version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 13. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijphs.v13i4.23439
Fu, Z., Wang, F., Dang, X., & Zhou, T. (2022). The association between diabetes and nocturia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.924488
Hendrich, A. L., Bufalino, A., & Groves, C. (2020). Validation of the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model: The imperative to reduce modifiable risk factors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2020.151243
Hidayati, L. N., Fahrizal, Y., & Wardaningsih, S. (2023). Pencegahan Stigma Gangguan Jiwa dengan Pelatihan Community Mental Health Nursing. Aksiologiya: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat. https://doi.org/10.30651/aks.v7i3.9479
Hu, T., Zhao, X., Wu, M., Li, Z., Luo, L., Yang, C., & Yang, F. (2022). Prevalence of depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114511
Kemenkes RI. (2026). Kerangka Kerja Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Kanker. Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. https://kemkes.go.id/id/layanan/kerangka-kerja-pencegahan-dan-pengendalian-kanker
Laborde, S., Allen, M. S., Borges, U., & Dosseville, F. (2022). Effects of voluntary slow breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability:A systematic review and a meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104711
Li, D., Li, Y., Bai, X., Wang, M., Yan, J., & Cao, Y. (2022). The Effects of Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Depression in People With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.853056
Majda, A., Szul, N., Kolodziej, K., Wojiceszek, A., Pucko, Z., & Bakun, K. (2022). Influence of Spirituality and Religiosity of Cancer Patients on Their Quality of Life. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094952
Nagy, D. S., Isaic, A., Motofelea, A. C., Popovici, D. I., Diaconescu, R. G., & Negru, S. M. (2024). The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Improving Quality of Life and Coping Mechanisms in Cancer Patients. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12232349.
Oumer, A., Abebe, T., Hassan, K., & Hamza, A. (2022). Validity and Predictive Performance of Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool for Institutionalized Elders in Ethiopia. BioMed Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6764657
Rathnayake, N., Karunadasa, R., & Abeygunasekara, T. (2023). Katz index of activities of daily living in assessing functional status of older people: Reliability and validity of Sinhala version. Dialogues in Health, 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dialog.2023.100134
Ren, Y.-L., Chu, W.-W., Yang, X.-W., Xin, L., Gao, J.-X., Yan, G.-Z., Wang, C., Chen, Y.-N., Xie, J.-F., Spruyt, K., Lin, J.-S., Hou, Y.-P., & Shao, Y.-F. (2025). Lavender improves sleep through olfactory perception and GABAergic neurons of the central amygdala. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118942
Silva, S., Bártolo, A., Santos, I. M., Pereira, A., & Monteiro, S. (2022). Towards a Better Understanding of the Factors Associated with Distress in Elderly Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063424
Snellman, S., Hörnsten, C., Olofsson, B., Gustafson, Y., Lövheim, H., & Niklasson, J. (2024). Validity and test–retest reliability of the Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale among very old adults. BMC Geriatrics, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04869-7
Taramun, A. H., & Siswadi, Y. (2024). Efektifitas Aromaterapi Lavender dalam Menurunkan Tingkat Ansietas Pasien Pre Operasi: Literature Review. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia (MPPKI). https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i4.5105
Tarigan, E. R., Simanullang, R. H., Wahyu, A., Ginting, L., & Hutahaean, M. M. (2022). PRE-POST PEMBERIAN AROMATERAPI BUNGA LAVENDER TERHADAP SKALA ANSIETAS PADA PASIEN PRE-MASTEKTOMI. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51544/keperawatan.v5i1.2509
WHO. (2026). Breast cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
Yana, Olivia Estrella, Sjattar, Elly Lilianty, & Erfina. (2024). Efektivitas Aromaterapi Inhalasi Lavender Dalam Upaya Meredakan Ansietas Pre-Operasi: Tinjauan Literatur. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36590/kepo.v5i2.1298
Yildirim, D., Ozdogan, M. H., Erdal, S., Selcuk, S., Guneri, A., Simsek, E. B., Can, T. B., Gunduz, H., & Kuni, A. (2025). The efficacy of lavender oil on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with hematological malignancy receiving chemotherapy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s00520-024-09143-5
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
