Effects of Mobile Phone Usage in Supporting Leg Lymphedema Self-care / Journal of Rural Medicine

ABSTRACT

<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.