Evaluation of the effect of caring program based on roy adaptation model in physiology and self-concept dimensions on fatigue of elderly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Fatigue is one of the complications of chemotherapy. Due to physiological conditions of elderly people, it is followed by several complications. Nursing intervention based on Roy adaptation model is required to reduce these complications. Objective: Evaluation of the effect of caring program based on Roy adaptation model in physiology and self-concept dimensions on fatigue of elderly cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy Method: This was a clinical trial study conducted in two groups (65 subjects in each group) undergoing chemotherapy in oncology ward of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran in 2018. Sampling was performed in 2 stages. First, eligible people were selected by convenient sampling method. Then, they were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The research tools included standard multidimensional fatigue inventory and “Roy” adaptation form. In the intervention group, 4 sessions of training were provided to elderly people in accordance with nursing diagnosis. Then, fatigue was followed-up in the two groups and the data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20. Finding: In this study, no significant difference was observed in the number of chemotherapy courses in the groups before intervention according to chi-square test (P = 0.667). Mean score of fatigue according to the paired T-Test was 60.63 ± 5.92 and 58.84 ± 6.28, respectively, in intervention and control groups before the intervention and it was 50.43 ± 7.42 and 58.46 ± 5.68, respectively, in intervention and control groups after the intervention (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The caring program based on “Roy” adaptation model was effective in reducing the fatigue of elderly cancer people undergoing chemotherapy.