Measuring informational intervention for chemotherapy knowledge and self-care behavior

Little is known about how cancer patients manage the side effects of chemotherapy, so 48 cancer patients in chemotherapy were randomized into four groups to determine their self-care behaviors. The first group received drug information only; the second group received information on side-effect management techniques (SEMT); the third group received combined drug and SEMT information; the fourth group were controls. Pre- and postintervention scores on chemotherapy knowledge, self-care behavior, and general affective state were evaluated by analysis of covariance. Patients who received drug information alone or in combination with other information had higher chemotherapy knowledge scores. Patients who received SEMT information alone or in combination with other information performed more self-care behaviors. Although an additive effect of combined information was noted, i.e., patients who received both types of information showed improved chemotherapy knowledge and self-care behaviors, the combined information did not produce a significantly improved affective state.