EFFECT OF SELF CARE GUIDELINE ON KNOWLEDGE OF WOMEN WITH GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY
Amal Fathy Mohammed, Shadia Hamedo, Nevin Samir, Ahmed Ibrahim*, Ali Mohammed Azmy**
*Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty of Nursing-Ain-Shams University
Departments of Obstetrics &Gynecology* and Clinical Oncology & Nuclear Medicine**Faculty of Medicine- Ain Shams University
Gynecological cancer women that are receiving chemotherapy may face physical problems that have negative impact on their quality of life as the result of toxicity of chemotherapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of using self-care guidelines on knowledge of women with gynecological cancer undergoing chemotherapy. An Intervention study was used at gynecological oncology unit of Maternity Hospital and out & inpatient gynecological department of Radiation Oncology & Nuclear Medicine center of Ain Shams University. A purposive sample of 100 women were included in the study. They were divided into two equal groups (study and control). Data were collected through a structured interview sheet developed to collect the women's data and knowledge, in addition to Arabic educational self care guidelines. Results of The study revealed statistical significant differences between study and control group in relation to total knowledge scores regarding gynaecological cancer, chemotherapy side effects and self care measures to overcome these side effects which the study group had higher total knowledge score than control group. The study concluded that self care guideline seemed to have positive impact on women's knowledge regarding gynecological cancer and chemotherapy. So the researchers recommended that utilization of developed self care guideline for women at out and in patients' chemotherapeutic department, educational programs should be developed for gynaecological cancer women about self care measure regarding chemotherapy side before starting treatment cycles. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of self care guide on quality of life for women with gynecological cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
December 2012