Impact of Educational Guidelines on Oral Mucositis Severity and Quality of Life in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a prevalent side effect of chemotherapy that negatively impacts patient quality of life (QoL). Educational guidelines may provide strategies to mitigate these effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational guidelines on the severity of OM and QoL in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. Patients (n = 108) were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving educational guidelines or a control group receiving routine care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at one and three months post-intervention. Data were collected using a structured interview including assessments of personal characteristics, clinical data, chemotherapy side effects, OM severity, and QoL. RESULTS: Baseline QoL scores were comparable between groups. Post-intervention, the intervention group experienced significant improvements in QoL (p ≤ 0.05), while the control group showed a decline. OM severity was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group at both time points (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Educational guidelines are an effective intervention for reducing OM severity and improving QoL in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Implementation of these guidelines can enhance patient well-being and support optimal treatment outcomes.

Improving Nurses' Knowledge, Practice, and Self-Efficacy Regarding Caring Patients with Tuberculosis: A Quasi-Experimental Design.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) control depends on healthcare professionals 'knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy when managing high-risk groups. So the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational program in improving nurses' knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy in caring for patients with TB. Material and Methods: A pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design was conducted on 36 nurses at Chest hospital Al Masah al Bahri in port said city and the Chest Hospital in Damietta City, Egypt. Data were collected using three self-administered questionnaires to assess knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy by using convenience sampling from March to August 2019. Data analyses were done by using a paired t-test, a Student t-test, and an F-test analysis of variance. Results: Based on data related to the two groups before and after the study in knowledge, practice (t = 8.27, p < 0.001), and self-efficacy (t = 28.91, p < 0.001), there was a significant difference between knowledge and overall knowledge scores (t=14, p < 0.001). Mean scores were significantly increased for practice items about the nursing role in medication, directed observed therapy, and the overall practice score; and for self-efficacy, which increased from 27.58 to 37.86 (p = <0.001). The results indicate that nurses' knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy were enhanced by the implementation of the educational program. Conclusions: There is scope for development in knowledge, practice, and self-efficacy using the educational program among nurses. Training programs must be implemented in quality control to aid nurses in realizing the significance of information in reducing disease and death and enhancing the quality of care.

Impact of educational programme on patient's health outcomes following open heart surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Postcardiac surgery, numerous factors have been shown to predict postoperative harm of QoL, such as age, female sex, history of hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, education level, marital status, and also psychological factors such as the presence of mood disorders. So, the essential key to self-management is behavioural change, which is necessary to improve the quality of life of patients and Health outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the education programme on patients' health outcomes following open heart surgeries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental research design carried out in intensive care for open heart surgery in Suez Canal university hospitals at Ismailia Governate on all available both sex patients performing open heart surgery for 6-month period (60) using the following four tools: the first tool for patient's risk stratification model Euro Scale sheet; the second tool New York Heart Association scale for assessing functional abilities; the third tool for health outcomes sheet for assessing patient's quality of life and health status; and the fourth tool for assessing Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: There was no significant difference found in the patient's vital signs before and after the educational programme. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference between overall quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics before and after the educational programme. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the educational programme has a positive effect on patients' quality of life in patients' educational programme; improve patient's health status as indicated by improved patient outcomes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The most important finding was the value of the educational training programme to address the needs of open heart surgery patients, indicating that after heart surgery, patient education by training can be helpful in self-care, and nurses can use a programme containing preparatory information to enhance results, alleviate patients problems, and improve the quality of life in patients with CABG.

Evaluating The Effect of Establishing Protocol for Self- Care Practice of Diabetic Foot Patients Regarding Their Needs, Concerns and Medication Use: A quasi-experimental study.

The practice of diabetic self-care plays a significant role in maintaining and preventing diabetic foot complications, but low commitment to self-care practices is common. This study evaluates the effect of establishing protocol for self-care practice of diabetic foot patients according to their needs, concerns, and medication use. A quasi-experimental research (pre-test and post-test) design was used in outpatient clinics at Benha University Hospital, Egypt. The study included 100 adult patients diagnosed with diabetes (types I and II) for at least six months. The findings revealed that 79% suffered from burning or tingling in legs or feet; 74% complained of presence of redness of lower limb, legs or foot pain with activity, and loss of lower extremity sensation; and 80% had changes in skin colour or skin lesions. A comparison between the group pre- and post-intervention (protocol) showed that post-intervention patient foot care knowledge and self-care practice scores were higher. Also, 72% of the participants obtained good knowledge related to foot care post- protocol intervention compared to 37% pre- intervention. Based on the findings, the establishing intervention protocol fosters self-care practice and knowledge regarding needs, concerns, and medication use among diabetic foot patients. Therefore, this protocol can be applied in health practice and research in order to prevent diabetic foot ulcer, and thereby foot amputation.