Breast Cancer Invasive, Head Neck Cancer, Radiation Therapy
Conditions
Brief summary
This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre- and post-test design with experimental and control groups to assess the effectiveness of optimized illustrated educational pamphlets in enhancing patient self-care cognition, satisfaction, and reducing anxiety. The experimental group received pamphlets with a combination of images and highlighted text, while the control group received traditional text-based pamphlets. The study targeted patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck or breast cancer for the first time. Pre-tests assessed baseline self-care cognition, and post-tests were conducted two weeks after treatment completion. The primary objective was to improve patient awareness and understanding of self-care, aiming to support both mental and physical well-being during RT.
Detailed description
This quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test comparison study was conducted from November 2, 2023, to August 31, 2024, at a medical center in Central Taiwan, following Institutional Review Board approval (IRB No. CS2-23058). A total of 200 first-time RT patients with head and neck or breast cancer were enrolled and randomized into two groups of 100 patients each. The experimental group received optimized illustrated pamphlets covering essential RT information, common side effects, and self-care principles, while the control group received traditional text-based pamphlets.
Interventions
OTHEROptimized illustrated pamphlets
Participants in the control group received traditional text-based pamphlets covering similar self-care information for RT. Pretests were administered before the start of treatment, and posttests were conducted two weeks after the completion of RT.
Sponsors
Chung Shan Medical University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* participants with clear consciousness. * participants could understand and comprehend Mandarin Chinese.
Exclusion criteria
* participants with impaired consciousness or decreased cognitive abilities.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Care Cognition | Pre-test administered before treatment and post-test two weeks after treatment completion. | Description: Assesses patients' knowledge of radiation therapy self-care, including treatment regimen, side effects, and principles. Tool: Self-Care Knowledge Questionnaire (SCKQ), scored on a 0-10 scale. Higher scores indicate greater self-care knowledge. |
| Satisfaction with Educational Materials | Post-test administered two weeks after treatment completion. | Description: Measures patient satisfaction with the educational materials (illustrated vs. text), with a focus on clarity and usefulness. Tool: Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS), scored on a 0-5 scale. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction. |
| Anxiety Assessment | Pre-test administered before treatment and post-test two weeks after treatment completion. | Description: Evaluates patient anxiety related to radiation therapy, using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). Tool: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), scored on a 0-56 scale. Higher scores indicate higher anxiety. |
Countries
Taiwan
Outcome results
None listed