RESUMEN
<b>Objective:</b> The aim of this study was to implement self-care support for leg lymphedema patients using mobile phones and to investigate the effects thereof.<br><b>Patients and Methods:</b> A total of 30 patients with lymphedema following female genital cancer surgery (stages I to II) who were referred from a nearby gynecologist were randomly divided into groups for routine self-care support (control group) and mobile telephone-assisted support (intervention group) and received the self-care support appropriate to their group. The (total) circumference of the leg with edema, FACT-G (cancer patient QOL), MHP (mental health status), and self-care self-assessment were comparatively investigated at three months after the initial interview.<br><b>Results:</b> No significant reduction in the (total) circumferences of legs with edema was confirmed in either the control or intervention group. The intervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms of the activity circumstances and FACT-G mental status at three months after the initial interview. The intervention group was also significantly better in psychological, social, and physical items in the MHP. The intervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms of circumstances of self-care implementation at three months after the initial interview. Additionally, comparison of the circumstances of implementation for different aspects of self-care content showed that the intervention group was significantly better at selecting shoes, observing edema, moisturizing, self-drainage, wearing compression garments, and implementing bandaging.<br><b>Conclusion:</b> Compared with routine self-care support, mobile telephone-assisted support is suggested to be effective for leg lymphedema patients’ QOL and mental health status as well as their self-care behaviors.
RESUMEN
<b>Objective:</b> The aim of this study was to implement self-care support for leglymphedema patients using mobile phones and to investigate the effects thereof.<br><b>Patients and Methods:</b> A total of 30 patients with lymphedema followingfemale genital cancer surgery (stages I to II) who were referred from a nearbygynecologist were randomly divided into groups for routine self-care support (controlgroup) and mobile telephone-assisted support (intervention group) and received theself-care support appropriate to their group. The (total) circumference of the leg withedema, FACT-G (cancer patient QOL), MHP (mental health status), and self-careself-assessment were comparatively investigated at three months after the initialinterview.<br><b>Results:</b> No significant reduction in the (total) circumferences of legs withedema was confirmed in either the control or intervention group. The intervention groupwas significantly better than the control group in terms of the activity circumstances andFACT-G mental status at three months after the initial interview. The intervention groupwas also significantly better in psychological, social, and physical items in the MHP. Theintervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms ofcircumstances of self-care implementation at three months after the initial interview.Additionally, comparison of the circumstances of implementation for different aspects ofself-care content showed that the intervention group was significantly better at selectingshoes, observing edema, moisturizing, self-drainage, wearing compression garments, andimplementing bandaging.<br><b>Conclusion:</b> Compared with routine self-care support, mobiletelephone-assisted support is suggested to be effective for leg lymphedema patients’ QOLand mental health status as well as their self-care behaviors.