Investigating the effect of nurses’ supportive and educative careon the quality of life in breast cancer patients referred for radiotherapy in Seyedoshohada hospitals in Isfahan in 1392
Background and aims: breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Iran and many countries; but in recent years, survival rate was longer in patients and yet there is a greater emphasis on their quality of life. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of nurses’ supportive and educative care on the quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Methods: This is a quasi-experimental, pre- and post- study. 45 patients with breast cancer referred to radiotherapy clinic of Seyedoshohada hospital were studied in 2013. The instruments used in this study were demographic and quality of life questionnaires from Backman institute completed before and after the training and support for patients. Questionnaires were completed and finally the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests.
Results: Based on the results obtained on the overall quality of life, it was observed that the average score for the quality of life in the sample was 51.73±13.91 before the intervention and 60.46±13.80 after the intervention (P<0.001). Also, the average scores in all four domains of quality of life after the intervention has increased, but the difference was significant only in two dimensions, physical and mental health (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results confirm the positive effect of nurses’ supportive and educative programs on the promotion of quality of life in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, planning and implementation of such programs on a broader basis and based on the educational and supportive patients' needs is recommended
