ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The study aimed to develop a web-based education program among cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy and to evaluate the efficacy of the program on symptom control, quality of life, self-efficacy, and depression. METHODS: A web-based education program was prepared in line with patient needs, evidence-based guidelines, and expert opinions and tested with 10 cancer patients. The single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted at a medical oncology unit of a university hospital. Pretests were applied to 60 cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy, and the patients (intervention: 30, control: 30) were randomized. The intervention group used a web-based education program for 3 months, and they were allowed to communicate with researchers 24/7 via the website. The efficacy of a web-based education program at baseline and after 12 weeks was evaluated. The CONSORT 2010 guideline was performed. RESULTS: In the first phase results of the study, it was found that most of the patients with cancer wanted to receive education about symptom management and the side effects of the treatment. Expert opinions on the developed website were found to be compatible with each other (Kendall's Wa = 0.233, p = 0.008). According to the randomized controlled study results, patients who received web-based education reported significantly fewer symptoms (p = 0.026) and better quality of life (p = 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in the self-efficacy and depression levels during the 3-month follow-up period (pË0.05). The most frequently visited links in the web-based education program by the patients with cancer were the management of chemotherapy-related symptoms (62.6%). CONCLUSION: A web-based education program was found to be efficacy in remote symptom management and improving the quality of life of cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov , NCT05076916 (October 12, 2021, retrospectively registered).
Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Quality of Life , Humans , Internet , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Self Efficacy , Single-Blind MethodABSTRACT
AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Chronic Care Model (CCM)-based interventions on primary outcomes (self-efficacy, quality of life/QoL, patient satisfaction) and secondary outcomes (activities of daily living/ADL, metabolic control variables, stroke knowledge level, healthy eating habits, physical activity, taking regular medication, measuring blood pressure regularly, living in harmony with the disease, outcomes regarding telephone interviews) in patients with ischemic stroke. METHOD: The intervention group (IG) received a 12-week StrokeCARE intervention protocol based on the four components of the CCM. The control group (CG) received only routine patient care. Changes between scores at two time points regarding self-efficacy, QoL, ADL, and metabolic control variables were calculated for each group, and then the mean changes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean ages of the patients were 55.9 ± 11.44 and 58.9 ± 13.82 years (respectively IG; CG), and 64.7% of the patients were male in both groups. Most patients had other chronic diseases accompanying ischemic stroke. No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to self-efficacy and QoL. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the IG. Positive feedback percentages of the patients in the IG regarding stroke knowledge level and consuming whole-grain food at the end of the 12 weeks increased significantly. This protocol had no significant effects on the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: The CCM-based interventions may increase the satisfaction level of the patients and help to raise awareness of the risk of a secondary stroke. More studies are needed to examine the effects of these interventions (ClinicalTrials.gov-Identifier Number:NCT04161820).
