EFFECTIVENESS OF A PHONE-BASED SUPPORT PROGRAM ON SELF-CARE CONFIDENCE, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WOMEN NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

The increasing number of breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy may result in long-lasting, adverse physical side effects, and reduce quality of life are posing challenges to patients. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a Phone-Based Support Program (PBSP) for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy by comparing the patients’ self-care confidence, psychological distress (including, symptom distress, anxiety and depression), and quality of life. A randomized controlled trial was designed, and a simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 94 patients aged 18-60 years who newly diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Data collection was carried out from April 22 to July 7, 2023, at the breast surgery and oncology department of Yancheng NO.1 People's Hospital, China. Research instruments consisted of five self-report questionnaires, including a demographic data, the Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale, the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ‐C30. Their Cronbach's alphas coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.89. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the participants’ characteristics and the study variables. The effect of PBSP on all outcomes was tested with MANOVA and two-way repeated measure ANOVA.

The results revealed that after completion of the intervention, participants in the intervention group had significantly higher self-care confidence, and quality of life, and lower psychological distress than that in the control group (p < .05).

These findings suggest that the PBSP is effective. It was found that establishing Internet-based program is an effective way to promote health among breast patients. Nurses and related healthcare personnel should utilize this program to help patients with breast cancer.

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