The Role of Educational Interventions in Improving the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients: Review the Literature

Abstract

Objective: Being diagnosed with cancer can be very distressing for patients and may have an impact on the emotional and physical aspects of their lives, both at the time of diagnosis and throughout their treatment. Studies have shown that reduced quality of life has a detrimental effect on disease progression and is related to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Educational interventions, for example, self-care education or educating the 'caregiver's family were related to an improved quality of life after cancer treatment. The objective of this article is to review the clinical research articles focused on implementing educational interventions as a means to improve the ""Quality of Life"" [QoL] of cancer patients. Material and Methods: The data in this study were collected from Scopus, Med line, Science Direct and Hinari databases. An in-depth search and advanced search of keywords ``Quality of life"", "Cancer Patients'', "education ", “Oncology Patients'', “Patients with Cancer“, “Quality of life”, “Intervention” was executed based on Inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 291 articles were identified. The final 13 articles were included in the review. Results: All analyzed studies have included some educational component in their intervention plan, during or after the cancer treatment. Patient education included different aspects like nutrition counseling, diet plan, and prevention of side effects related to cancer treatment in patients by patient self-care and education. Muscular progressive relaxation techniques were used to counteract nausea and emesis. Music was used to distract the patients throughout the whole chemotherapy treatment as well as before and after. One of the main elements of the self-care education was training about nutrition. Educational techniques such as instructing to perform abdominal massage, abdominal exercises to manage emesis and constipation associated with treatment, educational interventions also included daily text-messeges and web based education. Out of 13 studies analyzed, 10 showed a positive outcome. Conclusion: We can conclude that educational interventions may be useful in maintaining and improving cancer patients` quality of life.