title: The effect of individualized patient education, along with emotional support, on the quality of life of breast cancer patients - A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the effect of individualized patient education along with emotional support on the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It also aimed to determine the intervention's feasibility in the Pakistani context.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design, with pre- and post-test, in two groups, via time block, was used. The study was conducted at a public hospital in Karachi with a sample of 50 patients; 25 patients each in the intervention and control group. The intervention was delivered over a period of six weeks. It comprised verbal and written patient education, availability of a nurse during patients' chemotherapy administration and over the telephone, and a telephone follow-up of the patients by the nurse. patients' QoL was assessed at baseline and at the sixth week of receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tests indicated a significant improvement in the overall QoL, breast cancer subscale scores, and the physical and emotional well-being of the intervention group, as compared to the control group. The intervention effect size was moderate (0.655) for the QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention was found to be effective in improving patients' QoL. However, a larger study, in a multi-center setting, is recommended to ascertain the findings of this pilot study.
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan Development Network eHealth Resource Centre (AKDN-eHRC), Pakistan. Electronic address: sehrish.sajjad@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Sehrish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sajjad
authors.affiliation: King AbdulAziz University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Asho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Raisa B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Oncology & Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), Islamabad, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mateen
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shafquat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D037001:Directive Counseling; D004644:Emotions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010154:Pakistan; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Breast cancer; Individualized patient education; QoL; Quality of life