Effect of Educational Programme on Reported Self-Care Practice and Symptoms Among Women with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Abstract

Background: Lymphedema brought on by breast cancer has a significant impact on people's physical, social, and psychological wellness. Self-care can only be helpful if it is practiced, and women who deal with BCRL on a daily basis need support in the form of follow-up treatment. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational programme on self-care practice and reported symptoms among women with BCRL by using a quasi-experimental (one group) pre-post design with repeated measurements. Methods: This study was carried out at the outpatient lymphedema clinic of a big metropolitan tertiary hospital in the northern Suez Canal Region using a quasi-experimental design without a control group. A total of 81 patients with BCRL participated in the study and received an education program in the form of face-to-face sessions and an information booklet at the beginning of the study. Patients were evaluated for upper extremity circumference and reported symptom severity and self-care adherence, and they were followed for 6 months. Arm circumference, symptom severity, and level of self-care adherence. Results: Arm circumference measurement was decreased significantly with (P 0.060) along with the symptoms that associated with lymphedema (M (31.04) SD (2.26) with P<0.001). Additionally, a significant improvement in patient self-care adherence was noticed (M (91.90) SD (2.61) with P<0.001 compared to the baseline values) during the pre-assessment face. Significance of results: The findings of the current study proved that the educational programme intervention enhanced self-care behaviour and decreased lymphedema-related symptoms.