title: Effects of a self-care education program on quality of life after surgery in patients with esophageal cancer.
abstract: In recent years, the number of quality-of-life (QOL) studies on patients with esophageal cancer has increased; however, the number of studies related to the effects of self-care education programs on QOL of these patients is scarce. This article reports on the effects of a self-care education program on QOL for patients with esophageal cancer in Babol, Iran. The quasi-experimental study had a convenience sample of 105 patients with esophageal cancer referred to oncology centers in Babol City. A quasi-random allocation technique was used to divide the sample into experimental (n = 55) and control (n = 50) groups. Appropriate instruments were used to measure QOL (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Oesophageal 18). Questionnaires were completed by the respondents before and 3 months after implementing the educational program that consisted of group discussion, lectures, and pamphlets. There was no significant difference between QOL mean score of both groups before the intervention; however, after implementing the educational program, the QOL significantly improved in the experimental group (p = .001), whereas QOL decreased in the controls. We conclude that self-care education programs have positive effects on the QOL of patients with esophageal cancer. Planning and implementing such self-care education programs, when patients are under treatment, can help them improve their QOL.
authors.affiliation: Health Education, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam Khazaee
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pool
authors.forename: Haidar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nadrian
authors.forename: Nazila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pasha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care