Effect of Self Care Guidelines on Quality of Life for Patients with Leukemia after Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract

Patients with leukemia who were treated with stem cell transplantation (SCT) are confronted with a life-threatening illness, stressful treatment and suffering from biopsychosocial problems which decrease their quality of life. Self-care guidelines for such group of patients are considered important to elevate their quality of life after stem cell transplantation. Aim: This study was aiming to evaluate the effect of self-care guidelines on quality of life for patients with leukemia after stem cell transplantation. Study design: A quasi experimental design was utilized to meet the aim of the study. Subject: A purposive sample of 60 patients with leukemia after stem cell transplantation. The study subjects were divided into two groups (study and control group). Setting: The study was conducted at Bone marrow transplantation unit and outpatient clinic at Naser Institute hospital. Data collection tools: 1) Patient's socio-demographic characteristics sheet, 2) Patient's clinical data sheet, 3) Stem cell transplantation interview questionnaire, 4) Patients’ self-care practice observational checklists, and 5) Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) Bone Marrow Transplantation Scale. Results: the present study revealed that, there was a statistically significant difference between study and control groups regarding their self-care knowledge, practice and quality of life after stem cell transplantation post and follow up of self-care guidelines implemention (P˂0.01). Conclusion: Application of self-care guidelines has statistically significant positive effect on quality of life dimensions for patients with leukemia after stem cell transplantation Recommendations: Self-care guidelines for patients after stem cell transplantation should be applied in all bone marrow transplantation units for all diagnoses and should be up-dated periodically in order to enhance self-care for those patients. A simplified, comprehensive and illustrated booklet including self-care guidelines should be introduced to the patients after stem cell transplantation.