Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Maryam Mardani ¹
• Manijeh Firoozi ¹
• Mohammad Ali Besharat ²
• Tina Vosoughi ³

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Department of Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur university of medical sciences, ‎Ahvaz, Iran. / Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy Research center, Health research institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University ‎of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. ‎

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Paradoxical Psychotherapy (PTC) in improving adherence to treatment and tracking its progression over time in female cancer patients.
Methods: This investigation utilized a quasi‑experimental pretest–posttest design featuring a control group. The study sample consisted of female cancer patients receiving care at the Baqaii Hospital a Specialized Oncology Center in Ahvaz, Iran. Participants were selected via purposive sampling and randomly allocated to either the experimental group (n=21) or the control group (n=21). Data were gathered using the Adherence to Treatment Questionnaire.Participants in the experimental group received six individual, face-to-face Paradox Therapy (PTC) sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis, and the research hypothesis was tested using mixed analysis of variance in SPSS-25, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05
Results: PTC significantly improved treatment adherence, with its positive impact persisting over time.
Conclusions: Cancer patients frequently experience significant psychological distress due to the demanding and often painful treatment process. Identifying effective strategies to alleviate these anxieties is crucial for enhancing patient well-being. By investigating the impact of PTC on treatment adherence in cancer patients, this study contributes to bridging a major seam in psychosocial oncology.

Keywords

• Adherence to treatment
• Cancer
• Female
• Paradox Therapy