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2. Esta accin est cofinanciada por la Fundacin SnecaAgencia de Ciencia y Tecnologa de la Regin de MurciaISBN: 978-84-695-6114-0Edita: Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Unidad de Investigacin en Cuidadosde Salud (Investn-isciii). Cartagena, 2012.Este libro recoge ntegra y fielmente los trabajos enviados por los autores. La organizacin no se haceresponsable de las opiniones expresadas en ellos, ni de su contenido, formato, ortografa o gramtica.This book contains entirely and exactly the texts sent by the authors. The organisation is not responsiblefor the opinions expressed, nor the content or grammar. 3. Libro de ponencias - Book of abstractsMesa de comunicaciones 1: Cncer / Cuidados paliativosConcurrent session 1: Cancer / Palliative CareAUTORES/AUTHORS:MELTEM YILDIRIM, HATICE GULSOY, MAKBULE BATMAZ, CANSU OZGAT, GULSER YESILBURSALI, REYHAN SAFIYEERGEN, SEDANUR EKIZTTULO/TITLE:THE EFFECTS OF AFFIRMATIONS AND NATURE SOUNDS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SYMPTOMS RELATED TOCHEMOTHERAPYObjectives: Cancer is a common and considerable health problem worldwide. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment option forcancer. However it has many side effects which can affect the quality of life (Karabulutlu 2007).Chemotherapy may have various side effects and these side effects may differ in every person. Chemotherapy may lead to alopecia,loss of skin integrity, anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, stomatitis, diarrhea, pain, anxiety and depression. All theseside effects may differ to the type of the chemotherapy agent (Karabulutlu 2007). To decrease the side effects of chemotherapy; mostused medications are antiemetics, analgesics and sedatives. Non-pharmacologically; meditation, heat or cold application, rhythmicbreathing, imagination, ice massage, acupuncture, hypnosis, music theraphy, nature sounds and positive thinking may help todecrease the side effects of chemotherapy (Ucan and Ovayolu 2007).Recently; there are certain studies on non-pharmacological symptom management, however most of them are about music therapy(Ucan and Ovayolu 2007). The positive effects of music on symptom management suggest the possible research question that howcould nature sounds (rain, ocean waves, birds etc) may affect on symptom management.Affirmations have positive effects to activate the body and consciousness. However there arent any study which investigate the effectof affirmations on symptom management. As a theory; for understanding and changing behaviors; affirmation is a new subject. Thefirst experimental document about affirmations published in the late of 1990s. there are promising evidences on the effectiveness ofaffirmations on behavior change (Epton and Harris 2008). In this context; the aim of this study was to investigate the effects ofaffirmations and nature sounds on the management of symptoms related to chemotherapy.Methods: A randomized controlled experimental study design was used with 140 patients in an oncology unit of a research hospital inIstanbul, Turkey between 12-27-2011 and 01-11-2012. Written permissions and informed consents were obtained from ethicalcommittee and patients. There were three experimental groups and one control group. Every group contained of 35 patients. The firstexperimental group listened to affirmations during their chemotherapy infusion. The second group listened to nature sounds. Thirdgroup listened to nature sounds and affirmations in one tape. The fourth group was the control group. Symptoms were measured withEdmonton Symptom Assessment Scale which measures 9 symptoms (pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite,shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, well-being) and other possible symptoms may also considered. First measurement wasdone at the first onset of symptoms after the infusion starts, second measurement was done right after the chemotherapy infusionends, and third measurement was done on the fourth day after chemotherapy by telephone interview. The data were evaluated bydescriptive statistics and multiple variance analysis.Results: Sixty-five percent of the sample was female and 40.7% was diagnosed with breast cancer. When patients were asked for themost disturbing symptom; 40% answered nausea, 27.9% answered weakness, and 15.7% answered pain. In affirmation group; thescores after chemotherapy and on the fourth day in pain, tiredness, drowsiness, lack of appetite, depression, anxiety, well-being,skin-nail changes, and numbness in hands symptoms were found statistically lower than the scores of the first measurement(p