Objectives: - To evaluate the effectiveness of informational booklet regarding side effects management in patient undergoing external radiation therapy.
Methods: Quasi experimental pre test post test design was used in the study at radiation therapy department in cancer institute. 35 patients of head and neck cancer undergoing external radiation therapy received information booklet regarding side effect management of external radiation therapy in their first week of treatment. Knowledge regarding side effect management of external radiation therapy was assessed one week later.
Results: - In pre test there was 51.1% patients with poor knowledge, 48.6% had average knowledge and no one had good knowledge whereas the post test scores are increased by 85.7% with good knowledge, 14.3% had average knowledge and no one had poor knowledge. There is significant difference of knowledge score between pre and post test as P<0.0001 i.e. knowledge score significantly increased after administering information booklet. Sociodemographic variable age, gender, educational status, family income & type of treatment were found to have no association with knowledge score regarding management of side effects.
Conclusion: - Radiation therapy is one of the important treatments for cancer but can also cause side effects. These Side effects of radiation therapy are very common and can affect the quality of life of the cancer patients. There was significant impact of information booklet on knowledge regarding side effects management of radiation therapy among head and neck cancer patients. Hence using information booklet as an education material can be helpful in teaching patients self care behaviours, prevent the side effects of radiation therapy and improve the quality of life.
Key words: Information booklet, external radiation therapy, head and neck cancer, side effect management.
A Study to Assess Effect of Information Booklet on Knowledge Regarding Side Effect Management in the Patients of Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing External Radiation Therapy in Selected Hospital
