To construct an intervention protocol combining exercise and compression therapy for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN) in breast cancer patients and to analyze its application effects.

Patients receiving chemotherapy in 3 wards of the breast surgery department at a tertiary grade A hospital in Henan Province were selected as the study subjects by convenience sampling from November 2022 to September 2023.Based on admission time and a lottery method,breast cancer patients were divided into control group,exercise group,compression group,and combination group.Based on the health action process approach(HAPA) theory,an intervention protocol combining exercise and compression therapy for CIPN in breast cancer patients was constructed through literature review,semi-structured interviews,and Delphi expert consultation.The control group received routine nursing care in the breast surgery department.The exercise group,compression group,and combination group respectively implemented the exercise therapy,compression therapy,and combined exercise and compression therapy intervention protocols in addition to routine nursing care.The incidence and severity of CIPN,CIPN symptom experience,impact on daily life,and balance function were compared among the 4 groups after 4 chemotherapy cycles.

During the study,10 patients dropped out,resulting in 33 patients each in the control and compression groups,and 32 patients each in the exercise and combination groups.After the intervention,there were statistically significant differences in terms of incidence and severity of sensory and motor neuropathy as well as the fall risk rate among patients in 4 groups(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the compression group and the combination group showed statistically significant differences in terms of incidence and severity of sensory and motor neuropathy as well as the fall risk rate among patients(all P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in terms of incidence and severity of sensory and motor neuropathy as well as the fall risk rate among patients in 4 groups(all P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in terms of total scores and subscale scores of the Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool among the 4 groups after the intervention(all P<0.05).Statistically significant differences were found in the pairwise comparisons of total scores and subscale scores of the Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool among the 4 groups(all P<0.05).

Both compression therapy and the combination of exercise and compression therapy could reduce the incidence and severity of CIPN in breast cancer patients.Both compression therapy and the combination of exercise and compression therapy could also improve balance function,CIPN symptom experience,and the impact of CIPN on daily life in breast cancer patients.Moreover,the combination of exercise and compression therapy is more effective than either single therapy in improving CIPN symptom experience and its impact on daily life of patients.