Effect of Self-Care Teaching Module on Radiation- Induced Acute Side Effects and Clinical Outcomes for Head and Neck Cancer Patient

Back ground: When providing care for patients with head and neck disorders, nurses can employ a variety of strategies since these patients require direction, encouragement, support in navigating the extended cancer treatment program, the healthcare system, and support with problem-solving. One of the main responsibilities of radiation care nursing is teaching. Aim: This quasiexperimental study design aimed to evaluate the effect of self-care teaching module on radiation-induced acute side effects and clinical outcomes (Means minimizing the radiation-induced side acute effects and distress such as mucositis, dysphagia and dermatitis by using specific actions which were done by patients or their families) in head and neck cancer patient. Subject and methods: A purposive sample of A group of fifty adult patients with head and neck cancer who had just started radiation therapy were chosen. Two groups of twenty-five patients each were formed from the subjects. While Group II received these self-care teaching modules from the researcher, Group I, the control group, did not get any such modules about acute side effects. Data relevant to the study were gathered using four tools. Tool (I) was a structured patient assessment questionnaire. Tool (II) Modified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scale. Tool (III) a self-care questionnaire. Tool (IV) was Clinical outcomes assessment sheet Results: The major findings showed that, one and three months after receiving the self-care instruction module, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores regarding the change of quality grade of functional capacity for study group II. Conclusion: The incidence, intensity, and distressing nature of radiationinduced acute side effects in head and neck patients were all reduced as a result of the self-care education module. Recommendations: It was suggested that all head and neck patients should have regular intervention in the form of teaching self-care techniques to patients prior to undergoing radiation therapy.