The purpose of this study were to develop the staged family participation program for breast cancer patients and to identify its effectiveness on the patients's quality of life. A staged family participation program has been developed based on family ...
The purpose of this study were to develop the staged family participation program for breast cancer patients and to identify its effectiveness on the patients's quality of life. A staged family participation program has been developed based on family support and self-efficacy for breast cancer patients.
The design of the study was non-synchronized research methods with nonequivalent control group. The effects of the staged family participation program was tested by measured family support, self-efficacy, grip strength, shoulder flexibility, pain, self-esteem, anxiety, quality of life, as a dependent variables at two points ; before and in 3 weeks after the intervention.
The subjects of breast cancer patients participating in this research were selected from Chungnam National University Hospital located in Daejeon city, consisting of 21 experimental group and 20 control group. Data collection were performed during the period of May 2, 2005 to October 21, 2005.
The staged family participation program of this study included supply of informations on breast cancer, shoulder joint exercise, nutrition control, assistant treatment and self effectiveness enhancement consulting and the breast cancer patients and their families participated and processed by individual interaction training system in each stage that were executed in group meeting room for 50 to 70 minutes.
The instruments for the study were family support (Kang, 1985), self-efficacy (Kim, 1994), grip strength (Bulb Dynamometer, Made in USA, 0-30), shoulder flexibility (Back & Reach test), pain (VAS : 10cm- long Visual Analog Scale), self-esteem (Jon, 1974), anxiety (Kim & Sin, 1978), and quality of life (Lee, 2000). The collected data were analysed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test and repeated measure ANOVA, using SPSSWIN 11.0 program.
The results were as follows :
1) After the program, the family support of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.
2) After the program, the self efficacy of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.
3) After the program, the physiological problems of the experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group. Specifically, the grip strength and shoulder flexibility of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Further, the pain perception of the experimental group was also significantly lower than that of the control group.
4) After the program, the socio-psychological problems of the experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group. Specifically, self-esteem of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The anxiety perceived by the experimental group was also significantly lower than the control group.
5) After the program, the quality of life of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.
In conclusion, the staged family participating program for breast cancer patients developed by this study was supported as a useful care consulting for enhancement of quality of life by improving physical, social and psychological status of breast cancer patients. This program provided systematic management to the patients and their families from the time of entrance to their discharge based on family support and self efficacy. This program was designed as a short-term consulting program, considering the environment of medical care of reduced days of staying in hospital, but is expected to have potential of providing a base for continued treatment and active support of family after the patients goes back home to enhance self control of the patients.