Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING
Volume 56, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102081
Keywords
Breast cancer; Lymphedema; Lymphedema management; Patient education; Self-management
Funding
- Hacettepe University Lymphedema Practice and Research Center
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study found that the self-management lymphedema education program had significant effects on lymphedema, lymphedema-related symptoms, patient compliance, activities of daily living, and patient activation in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema.
Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of self-management lymphedema education program (SMLEP) on lymphedema, lymphedema-related symptoms, patient compliance, activities of daily living (ADL) and patient activation in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Methods: A quasi-experimental design without a control group was used to conduct this study in a lymphedema center of a university hospital in Ankara. A total of 44 patients with BCRL participated in the study. Patients (n = 44) received a SMLEP in the form of face-to-face sessions and information booklet at the beginning of the study. Patients were evaluated for upper extremity (UE) volume, and they were followed for 12 months. UE volume, symptom severity, physical function, patient compliance, ADL and patient activity level were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Results: A significant reduction was found in the UE volume (P = 0.000; ES = -0.79) and swelling and numbness symptom scores (P = 0.016; ES = - 0.26; P = 0.002; ES = -0.45, respectively). In addition, a significant increase was found in patient compliance (P = 0.001; ES = -0.29), ADL (P = 0.018; ES = -0.16) and patient activity level (P = 0.000; ES = -0.39) compared to those at the baseline. Conclusion: The present study results showed that SMLEP reduced UE volume and lymphedema-related symptoms. In addition, results demonstrated its effectiveness on patient compliance and activity level, and independent performance of ADL. The results suggest that SMLEP is an effective approach in long-term lymphedema self-management.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available