Khantwal G, Sharma SK, Rani R, Agarwal SP. Effect of Postsurgical Nurse-led Follow-ups on Quality of Life in Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2021;
8:573-580. [PMID:
34527788 PMCID:
PMC8420919 DOI:
10.4103/apjon.apjon-2112]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective:
Burden of head-and-neck cancer is disproportionately bigger in India and can be regarded as “tip of iceberg” situation. Postoperatively, head-and-neck cancer patients report tremendous challenges conversely, affects quality of their life. Oncology nurses contribute significantly in supportive care issues encountered by patients in the postoperative period. However, there is a paucity of the literature on effect of nurse-led postsurgical education program on quality of life (QOL) of head-and-neck cancer patients.
Methods:
In this pilot randomized controlled, parallel group trial, 64 head-and-neck cancer patients; who were electively planned for surgery were randomized in experimental (n1 = 32) and control group (n2 = 32). In the experimental group, participants received structured nurse-led postsurgical education program through virtual mode and control group participants received standard of care. The QOL as an outcome variable was assessed through face-to-face interview at baseline on first postoperative day and postoperative day-4, 15, and 30 follow-ups by using standardized instruments, i.e., EORTC QLQ-C30 and H and N35 questionnaire.
Results:
The experimental group had a significant improvement in global health (P = 0.02), role functioning (P = 0.02), emotional functioning (P = 0.01), swallowing (P = 0.01), and opening mouth (P = 0.02). Postoperative pain and speech problems were most distressing symptoms in participants of both groups.
Conclusions:
The nurse-led postsurgical virtual education programme was found effective to improve the selected domains of QOL and may be used as an adjuvant intervention for head-and-neck cancer patients.
Collapse