Effect of Educating Self-Care Program on Quality of Life in Patients with Gastric Cancer after Gastrectomy in Tabriz Hospitals

Complications after gastrectomy have an important effect on all dimensions of quality of life in patients with gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of educating self-care program on the quality of life in patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy in Tabriz Hospitals. Fifty four patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy were studied in two groups: experimental and control. Data were collected using three questionnaires: demographic, quality of life in patients with cancer, and quality of life in patients with gastric cancer. Experimental group was educated about self-care program face to face for 30 minutes. The quality of life in patients with gastrostomy in both groups before surgery and one month after discharge was assessed. Before and after educating self-care program, the overall quality of life based on QLQ-C30 questionnaire in experimental and control groups was not statistically significant, but in experimental group significant differences were observed in global quality of life (P=0.04), emotional function (P=0.004), and physical problems (P=0.03). The overall quality of life based on QLQ-STO22 questionnaire before and after the educating self-care program in control group was not significantly different, but in experimental group significant differences were observed (P=0.04). Also in this group, some dimensions such as dysphagia (P=0.01), stomachache (P=0.001) and emotional problem (P=0.04) the quality of life improved. The mean difference was not significant in overall QOL between two groups, before and after intervention. However, differences were significant in the emotional (P=0.006) and psychological dimension (P=0.007). Education of self-care program after gastrectomy was effective on improving overall QLQ based on QLQ-STO22 questionnaire in test group and also was effective in improving some dimensions of quality of life such as psychological, emotional and global QLQ and effective on reducing physical and eating problems.