The effect of Self-Care Training Program on Self-Esteem of cancer patients

Today, cancer as a chronic disease causes many changes in the physical, functional and psychological-social status of patients and their families. Self-esteem as one of the most important psychological concepts in these patients should be considered. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of self-care training program on self-esteem of cancer patients referring to Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj, 2020.

The present study was a before and after intervention that was performed on 162 patients with cancer referred to the oncology ward of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj in two groups of intervention (n = 80) and control (n = 82). In order to collect data, demographic characteristics checklist and Rosenberg standard self-esteem questionnaire were used. The intervention was performed in the experimental group in groups of 5-10 patient for 45 minutes in 4 sessions during one week. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-16 software Chi-square and t-test were used to compare the variables between the two groups and Paired t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the values of variables within the group before and after the intervention.

The mean and standard deviation of age in the intervention and control groups were 44/27± 12/55 ،  40/07± 11/17   years, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics (P> 0.05), except history of cancer in other family members. The results showed that the mean score of self-esteem in the two groups of intervention and control before and after the test did not show a significant difference (P=0.230).

Given that self-care training had no effect on self-esteem, therefore, it is suggested that self-esteem be assessed over a longer period of time.