Development, preliminary evaluation, and feasibility of a coping strategy and symptom management program for women...

Gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experience a high symptom burden and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to develop a coping strategy and symptom management program for gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to evaluate its preliminary effects and usefulness.

After developing the program with two modules - one focusing on coping strategies and the other on symptom management - the research team implemented it with 19 patients to assess its preliminary effects. Additionally, the program's feasibility was evaluated by both 20 experts and the 19 patients. The instruments used in the study were the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Descriptive analyses and generalized estimation equations were conducted using SPSS 25.0, and participants' open-ended responses were analyzed with ATLAS.ti 8.

Following the coping strategy module, participants showed a significant decrease in depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.005). After the symptom management module, participants' depression further decreased (p = 0.009), and their quality of life significantly improved (p < 0.001). While participants rated the program highly for feasibility, they suggested simplifying the educational contents and including strategies to enhance homework compliance.

The program effectively improved depression, anxiety and quality of life in gynecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and this study demonstrated the feasibility of the program.