Effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

Demet Aktas,Fusun Terzioglu

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.9.4089

Demet Aktas, Fusun Terzioglu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.9.4089

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Abstract

The purpose of the research was to determine the effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer. This randomized case control study was carried out in a womans hospital between September 2011 and February 2012. Women undergoing gynecological cancer treatment were separated into intervention and control groups, of 35 patients each. The intervention group was provided with nursing care service through hospital and home visits (1st, 12th weeks) within the framework of a specifically developed nursing care plan. The control group was monitored without any intervention through the hospital routine protocols (1st, 12th weeks). Data were collected using An Interview Form, Home Visit Monitoring Form and Quality of Life Scale/Cancer Survivors. Effects of home care service on the quality of life in gynecological cancer patients were investigated using chi-square tests, McNemar's test, independent t-test and ANOVA. This study found that the intervention group receiving home care service had a moderately high quality of life (average mean: 6.01±0.64), while the control group had comparatively lower quality (average mean: 4.35±0.79) within the 12 week post- discharge period (p<0.05). This study found home care services to be efficient in improving the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

Highlights

IntroductionGynecologic cancers are the most common female cancers (Mantegna et al, 2013)
After breast cancer, gynecologic cancers are the most common female cancers (Mantegna et al, 2013)
While gynecological cancers are becoming more commonly encountered across the world, the rate of mortality is gradually being reduced with the advanced early diagnosis-treatment methods introduced by developed countries (Akkuzu, 2012; Siegel et al, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Gynecologic cancers are the most common female cancers (Mantegna et al, 2013). The patients may experience such psychosocial troubles as loneliness, social isolation (Distefano et al, 2008), fear of death and depression during the advanced steps of the treatment process (average 6 to 12 weeks) (Lowdermilk, 2006; Distefano et al, 2008) Such psychosocial problems can persist for longer than two years in 55% of women, reducing their quality of life (Distefano et al, 2008; Sharifa et al, 2014). Gynecological cancer treatments cause a number of changes in the body image of women (organ loss, scar tissue, etc.) (Unsar et al, 2007), and adversely affect their sexuality (loss of sexual desire, decrease in sexual intercourse, loss sexual attractiveness, anorgasmia, etc), resulting in a reduced quality of life (Yajima et al, 2001; Jocham et al, 2009; Demirtas and Pinar, 2014)

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