The Effect of Peer Education on Knowledge, Comprehension, and Knowledge Application of Patients Regarding Chemotherapy Complications

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of peer education on the
level of knowledge, comprehension, and knowledge application of patients regarding chemotherapy
complications. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 80 patients with cancer
undergoing chemotherapy in 2018. The participants were selected through convenience sampling
and randomly allocated to the two groups of control and intervention (40 participants per group).
Before the intervention, the participants in both groups completed a demographic characteristics
form and the Educational Needs Assessment Questionnaires. Then, the peer education intervention
was designed based on the educational needs of the patients regarding chemotherapy complications
for the intervention group. Peer education was performed face‑to‑face and individually during two
chemotherapy sessions. The questionnaires were re‑administered to both groups 2 weeks after the
end of the second chemotherapy session and data analysis was performed using independent t‑test,
Chi‑square. Results: The means of knowledge (t
78
= 19.74, p < 0.001), comprehension (t
78
= 17.27,
p < 0.001), and knowledge application (t
78
= 14.84, p < 0.001) were significantly increased after
peer education in the intervention group compared to the control group. The difference in the means
of knowledge (t
39
= 17.40, p < 0.001), comprehension (t
39
= ‑18.53, p < 0.001), and knowledge
application (t
39
= ‑13.94, p < 0.001) after peer education, compared to before the intervention, was
significant in the intervention group. Conclusions: Peer education can lead to increased level of
knowledge, comprehension, and knowledge application of patients in terms of chemotherapy
complications