To Determine the Educational Self-care Needs of Cancer Patients receiving External Radiation Therapy and Planning Educational Program on the Basis in Teaching Hospital, Tabriz, 1998.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Radiotherapy is playing a major role in primary treatment of cancer approximately 50% of all cancer patient will require radiation therapy at same stage. Much has been learned about the beneficial as well as harmful effects of ionizing radiation. So there has been a growing movement toward greater patient involvement in self-care. The use of self-care management technique provide appropriate preparation for patient receiving radiation therapy. Objective: To determine the educational self-care needs of cancer patients receiving external radiation therapy and planning educational program on the basis. Design: Analytic descriptive study. The method for gathering data was through structured interview and patient’s files. Setting: Medical center of Sayyid-ol-Shohada (PBUH) affiliated to the University Of Medical Science Of Esfahan. Participant: One hundred- thirty cancer patient receiving external radiation therapy by 60- cobalt machine to the head & neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, were chosen through convenience sampling. Results: The educational self-care of patient receiving radiation therapy are as follow: The subject had average educational self-care needs regarding: Immediate skin reaction (53.1%), Immediate systemic side effects (68.5%), Immediate gastro-intestinal side effect: from head & neck (60%), chest (66.7%), abdomen & pelvis (67.5%). Immediate gynec-urinary side effects (57.1%). Among the variables studied, the level of education had significant relationship with educational self –care needs regarding acute side effects of radiation therapy. Conclusion: Current study showed that only a few percent of patient with cancer had low educational self- care needs regarding acute side effects of radiation therapy. As the majority of subjects had poor self –care knowledge, the educational program has been established on this basis. By applying the scientific background material and promoting self –care behavior in patients, the nurses will able to devise a comprehensive plan of care for each individual receiving radiotherapy.