암환자의 화학요법 부작용에 대한 자가간호 행위 연구 = Cancer Patients' Use of Self-care Behaviors in Managing Side Effects Related to Chemotherpy

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of the study is to research the side effects of chemotherapy which are experienced by cancer patients, theirself-care behaviors to manage the side effect symptoms, and to for provide the fundamental knowledge basis for nursing intervention and self-care education.
The subjects were 15 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in 2 university hospitals.
The side effects and self-care behaviors were categorized into 7 themes.
1) First theme <Decreased Digestion Function> Patients experienced nausea, vomiting, alteration in appetite, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion. Patients used emetics, ate sweets fruits, drank alcohol and cold veberages to deal with nausea and vomiting. They took their favorites, and yogurt and medicine, and an easily digestible diet to decrease the side effects on digestive function.
2) Second theme <Aggravation of Oral Conditions> Patients experienced oral-dryness & stomatitis. Patients consumed water, candy a warm food and various beverages.
3) Third theme <Decreased Sensational Functions>, To cope with changed sense of
taste, patients ate their favorite foods, and to help offset alteration in tactile sense they used massage. Concerning changed sensitivity to decreased temperature, ultraviolet treatment and various means of keeping warm were used. To deal with the changed sense of smell and hearing, they avoided noise and bad odors as much as possible.
4) Fourth theme <Aggravation of Skin Conditions> Patients experienced discoloured skin and alopecia.
Patients wore appropriate clothes to hide it. To deal with alopecia, they used hats, head kerchief, and positive thinking.
5) Fifth theme <Aggravation of Whole Body Condition> Patients experienced weight loss, URI symptoms, fatigue, pain, insomnia and they took various food health products, medicines, and naps.
6) Sixth theme <Decreased Exercise Function> Patients experienced musculoskeletal changes and decreased amounts and range of activities. They did self-care behaviors such as taking baths, exercising etc.
7) Seventh theme <Aggravation of Mental Health> Patients felt varing level of anxiety and for this they had fellowship with support companies and used religion, self-control, and positive thinking.

From the above research, it can be concluded that :
Patients used self-care behaviors which were not proved in effectiveness and education for the prevention and management for the related side effects of chemotherapy was not effective, either.