Educational Protocol during Radiotherapy and Its Relation to Skin Toxicity and Self-esteem among Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Acute skin toxicity is one of the most common side effects of breast cancer radiotherapy and these adverse events often negatively affect patient's self-esteem and willingness to continue the treatment. Aim of the study: assess the breast cancer patient's knowledge in relation to skin care during radiotherapy before the implementation of educational protocol and examine the effect of educational protocol on breast cancer patients' knowledge in relation to reducing skin reaction and improving self-esteem after the implementation of educational protocol. Subject and method: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Subject: A purposeful sample including (40) female adult patients were included in the current study. Setting: This study was carried out at oncology center in Minia city. Tools of data collection: Two scales were standardized and two tools were utilized to collect data: 1-Bio socio-demographic characteristics and structured interview schedule; 2-Educational proshour for instructions to reduce radiotherapy skin toxicity; 3-Common Toxicity Criteria-; 4-Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: There were highly statistically significant differences among both study and control groups regarding their self-esteem and skin toxicity after educational protocol, there were a highest strong negative statistical significant correlation was found between skin toxicity and both knowledge and self-esteem scales among the study and the control group. Conclusion: the educational protocol reduced skin toxicity of radiotherapy in the study group and improves their self-esteem than control group. Recommendations: Based on the research findings the patients' health education about care radiation target area for breast cancer had a positive effect on patients' skin toxicity degree, design and implement an in-service training program for nursing staff about protocol that minimize radiotherapy skin toxicity.