Effect of a Multidisciplinary and Individualized Educational Program on the Need for Caring among Patients with Cancer under Radiotherapy.
- Author:
Ja Yun CHOI
1
;
Jin Ju YANG
Author Information
1. College of Nursing, Chonnam University, Gwangju, Korea. choijy@jnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Patient education;
Needs;
Radiotherapy;
Cancer
- MeSH:
Adult;
Humans;
Korea;
Patient Education as Topic;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Self Care;
Spouses
- From:Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing
2008;8(1):17-23
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effect of an individualized educational program by multidisciplinary staffs on the need for caring among patients with radiotherapy. METHODS: A quasi experimental study with one group was designed to examine the effect. A total of 48 adult patients were recruited from a university hospital in G-city, Korea from July, 2006 to June, 2007. The level of patients' need for caring during radiotherapy was assessed at the pre- and post-education by a trained research assistant. The level of patients' need for caring on radiotherapy was measured with a 20-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Paired t-test showed that the level of patients' need was reduced at the post-test compared to pre-test (t=3.40, p=0.002). The level of need was higher among the older than 65 yr (F=4.82, p=0.034), and patients who had education years less than 10 yr (F=4.40, p=0.042) and not a spouse (F=5.97, p=0.019) at the pre-test, while there were no difference according to participants' characteristics at the post-test. CONCLUSIONS: This multidisciplinary and individualized education program was effective on reducing the level of need for caring during radiotherapy. Therefore, for long-term self-management, further educational strategies based on patients' needs through multidisciplinary teamwork need to be developed and applied.
