Use of Handheld Fans in Management of Hot Flashes in Women With Breast Cancer Receiving Hormonetherapy

Hot flushes are a common symptom in women with breast cancer receiving hormone therapy. It can lead to conditions that reduce quality of life such as sleep quality deterioration, sexual problems and discomfort in daily life. Effective management of the symptom improves the quality of life of patients. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of handheld fan use in the management of hot flashes in women with breast cancer receiving hormone therapy. Hypotheses of the research: H1: Handheld fan use has no effect in managing hot flashes in women with breast cancer receiving hormone therapy. H2: The use of handheld fan has an effect on the management of hot flashes in women with breast cancer receiving hormone therapy. This randomised controlled study was a pretest-posttest experimental design. The study sample consisted of 64 breast cancer patients (n = 32 for each of the intervention and control groups) receiving hormone therapy treatment in the medical oncology department of a university hospital. The intervention group used a hand-held fan when experiencing hot flush symptoms, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The pre-test and post-test Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and hot flush belief scale scores and the results of the individual identifying information form were compared for both groups.