EFFECT OF SELF-CARE ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Breast cancer and adverse effects of chemotherapy disorder physical,
psychosocial, social and spiritual proceeds and reduce the quality of life in patients. So, Self-care
education should be improved to sense of well-being in patients. The aim of this study was to determine
the effects of self-care education on quality of life (QOL) in women with breast cancer, undergoing
chemotherapy.
Materials & Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 64 women with breast cancer,
undergoing recently mastectomy and were in the first session chemotherapy program. The patients were
randomly divided in two groups of case and control. The questionnaire has two parts: 1) demographic
characteristics, 2) the quality of life, standard questionnaire of National Medical Center and Beckman
Research Institute related to breast cancer. In the first session of chemotherapy program the
questionnaires were completed for two groups and the self –care was educated to study group for 60
minutes and booklets were given them to study. Again, after four months the questionnaires were
completed and compared for two groups. Chi –square test, t-test and fisher test was used for analysis of
data.
Results: There was no significant difference between quality of life mean scores of study group, before
and after intervention (P>0/05).
Conclusion: This research shows that aforementioned education in the first session of chemotherapy
program did not improve quality of life of women with breast cancer