Effect of Self-Care Guidelines on Chemotherapy Associated Symptoms for patients with lung Cancer

Abstract

Background; Lung cancer is common cancers worldwide. In view of the highsymptoms burden and sever morbidity, Effective symptoms management requires comprehensive self –care strategies Aim: of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-care guidelines on Symptoms Burden for Patients with lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy. Methods: This study was conducted at the outpatient clinics in Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center, affiliated to Ain Shams University. Sample: A purposive sample of (50) Adult patients were recruited for this study Tools: 1- An interview questionnaire to assess, a- Patient's socio demographic characteristics, b- Patient's medical health profile, cpatients knowledge about lung cancer. 2- symptoms burden assessment and 3- patients' selfcare practices assessment. Results: the present study revealed that more than one third of the patients in the study and control groups had satisfactory level of knowledge pre implementation of self-care guidelines which improved to the majority of the study group post implementation. There were statistically significant negative correlations between patients' total symptom severity and practices in the study group pre and post self-care guidelines implementation, there were statistically significant positive correlations between patients' total practices and knowledge in the study group pre self-care guidelines implementation while, post self –care guidelines implementation it becomes highly significant positive correlation, there were highly statistically significant negative correlations between patients' total symptoms severity and total knowledge in the study group pre and post self-care guidelines implementation Conclusion: self-care guidelines have a statistically significant positive effect on decreasing severity of lung cancer symptoms While, some chemotherapy-associated symptoms were slightly improved but there were no significant differences between pre and post self-care guidelines implementation. Recommendations: Health education programs about disease and its management should be provided for lung cancer patients.