Effect of self care guidelines on quality of life for patients with leukemia after stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Back ground: Patients with leukemia who were treated with stem cell transplantation (SCT) are confronted with a life-threatening illness, stressful treatment and suffering from bio psychosocial 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 implementation (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.