The Effect of Color Therapy on Anxiety in Chemotherapy Patients Attending the Oncology Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety is a prevalent and distressing symptom experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, which can adversely affect treatment adherence and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of color therapy in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 190 patients with oncology diagnoses who were admitted to the chemotherapy department. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which was exposed to a blue therapeutic room, or the control group, which was placed in a standard hospital setting. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory before the intervention and again after a 20-minute exposure. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25. Results: The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety scores, decreasing from 57.70 ± 10.14 to 50.03 ± 8.49 (p < .05), while the control group showed no significant change (56.48 ± 5.09–55.83 ± 9.15). Conclusion: Color therapy effectively reduces anxiety in chemotherapy patients as a cost-effective and noninvasive complementary method. To implement these findings, oncology units should integrate structured color-based interventions into routine care. Training healthcare staff and conducting pilot studies are essential to ensure proper application and assess feasibility.