Effect of self care guidelines on quality of life of women under treatment of genital malignancies

ABSTRACT

Genital Malignancy [GM] is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. GMs and its treatment can dramatically change a person's quality of life [QOL]; physical, social, and psychological domains. The study aimed at [1] Assessing the effect of GMs and treatment related symptoms on women's QOL, [2] Developing self-care Guidelines [SCG] for enhancing QOL of women with GMs under treatment, and [3] Evaluating the effect of SCG on the outcomes of QOL of women with GMs [based on Orem's nursing theory]. The study design was a quasi- experimental. A random sample of 150 women with different types of GMs and treatment modalities, mean age was 32.69 +/- 9.88 years, were recruited. Data were collected from different health settings namely [I] Outpatient Clinic, Gynecological Oncology Unit of Maternity Hospital, Radiotherapy Unit [Cobalt], at Am-Shams University Hospital, and [2] Out-patient Clinic of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute. Two tools were used for data collection [1] A structured interview questionnaire form, and [2] the Functional Assessments of Cancer Therapy [FACT] scale, adopted from Carter, et.al. [1997]. A developed SCG was distributed and explained by the researchers to the study sample and followed up by home visiting and phone calls. Data analysis, using T-test elaborated that women with GMs under different treatment modalities had the lowest QOL outcome scores for the physical and psychological domains [P>0.05], but the social one had the average score before practicing SCG. After practicing SCG, findings showed a statistical significant improvement or better achievement in the outcome of the total QOL domains scores [P <0.05]. Findings would be helping for increasing the generalizability of practicing SCG for promoting and enhancing QOL domains of women's with GMs under treatment modalities