Surveying the effect of a self-care education program on severity of nausea and emesis in colorectal cancer patients under chemotherapy

Abstract

Background and objectiveColorectal cancer is one of the main causes of mortality in both developed and developing countries, including Iran. One of the treatments available for colorectal cancer is chemotherapy, of which nausea and emesis are the side effects. Owing to problems in controlling the side effects, a combination of medicine and non-medicine interventions is usually used. Self-care is one of the non-medicine interventions in this regard. The present study was aimed at surveying the effect of a self-care education program on severity of nausea and emesis in colorectal cancer patients under chemotherapy.MethodsA semi-experimental study was carried out in Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah, Iran. The sample group comprised 52 patients with colorectal cancer under chemotherapy. Data gathering tools included a demographics questionnaire and Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis. To control intensity of nausea and emesis, a package of self-care measures including muscular progressive relaxation, music, and education on nutrition was used. Afterward, the collected data were analyzed using statistical tests such as Shapiro–Wilk test (to check normal distribution of the data), Mann–Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and chi-square test with the help of SPSS 20.ResultsThe results showed a considerable decrease in intensity and frequency of nausea and emesis after the intervention. The p-value of Mann–Whitney U test results with regard to intensity of nausea in the experiment and control groups after the intervention was 0.029; this figure for intensity of emesis was 0.009, which indicated effectiveness of the self-care program.ConclusionAs the results showed, using self-care program could be effective in attenuating intensity of emesis and nausea in colorectal cancer patients under chemotherapy. So, it can be concluded that the use of this program can increase the patient’s self-care ability to control vomiting and nausea, which can be considered as a complementary approach to the antiemetic medications.

The Effects of Add-on Self-Care Therapy on Epidural Catheter Analgesia and Quality of Life in Patients after Surgical Stabilization of Multiple Rib Fractures

“…However, self-care measure has its own limitations. Many external variables in uence the self-care capability of an individual, such as growth stage, age, cultural/social awareness, income, resources, and life experiences [22]. Due to all these factors, the ultimate effect of self-care measures on different individuals could vary.…”

“…Patients in the intervention group were brie y informed about the overall design of self-education. A self-care package, including muscular progressive relaxation and music, was adopted from a prior study [22]. The demographics were assessed rst and the initial QoL score was obtained based on the severity of emesis and nausea.…”

From Theory to Practice: Application of Self-Regulation Model for the Management of Fatigue among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

“…Earlier studies also showed that autonomic and self-regulation intervention have an independent impact on global and cognitive fatigue, self-regulation, and reduced anxiety and depression among breast cancer patients (24) . Educational programs on self-care regulation for patients with colorectal cancer who are receiving chemotherapy was also effective in reducing the intensity of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting (25) . In addition, qualitative research concluded that when SRM was used, participants were able to understand their fatigue and appraise coping which helped them to have better control and management (26) .…”

The effects of add-on self-care education on quality of life and fatigue in gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

“…The enrolled patients were briefly informed about the global design of self-education. A package of self-care measures including muscular progressive relaxation, music, and education on nutrition was adopted from a previous study [12]. The demographics investigation was performed firstly and initial quality of life was scored with respect to the severity of nausea and emesis.…”

“…The demographics investigation was performed firstly and initial quality of life was scored with respect to the severity of nausea and emesis. Afterward, the education section composed of a 12session (45-60 min) course employing slides and videos, which emphasized three major aspects including muscular progressive relaxation, distraction and nutrition optimization referred to the previous reports [12] implicating the beneficial effects on improvement of patient's physical and mental status. To reduce the severity of nausea and emesis, a muscular progressive relaxation technique was trained to the patients in the experiment group as a self-care measure.…”