Patients' self-care for side effects of chemotherapy after mastectomy

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy is medicine used to destroy cancer cells and treat breast cancer. It is toxic to fast growing cancer cells.. The aim of this study was to assess the patients 'self-care practices for side effects of chemotherapy after mastectomy. Design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized to achieve aim of the study. Setting: the study was conducted at the oncology outpatient breast clinics at Dar El Salam oncology center. Sample: Purposive samples of 117 patients were included in the study. Tools: Tool I: Structured interview questionnaire: Part I: Socio demographic characteristics of patients, Part II: Medical health history assessment, Part III: Patients’ knowledge regarding chemotherapy. Tool II: Patients' self-care practices assessment sheet:. Part I: Assessment of patients 'self-care practices regarding chemotherapy, Part II: Patients' daily living activities. Results: 65.0% of the studied patients had satisfactory total knowledge score regarding chemotherapy, about half them had satisfactory total self-care practices score regarding chemotherapy's side effects. Conclusion: there were highly statistically significant positive correlation between the studied patients' total knowledge regarding chemotherapy and their total self-care practices. Recommendations: Continuous evaluation of patient's' knowledge and practice is essential to identify patient's needs and factors affecting their performance & activities of daily living.