2014 Volume 28 Issue 3 Pages 13-23
Abstract
The present study aimed to measure and clarify correlations between specific experiences, self‒management, self‒efficacy and quality of life （QOL） in order to suggest nursing interventions to increase self‒efficacy and QOL among post‒operative gastroenterological cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy.
The survey was conducted by interviewing 61 gastroenterological cancer patients （mean age, 65.6 ±10.8 years） receiving outpatient chemotherapy following surgery for colon cancer （n＝38, 62.3 ％） or stomach cancer （n＝23, 37.7 ％）. A total of 43 patients （70.5 ％） reported subjective symptoms. Many patients reported changes in nutritional state and excretion, and psychosocial changes were experienced by a large proportion of patients, including asymptomatic, Performance Status 0 patients. With regard to self‒management ability, only a small proportion of patients had acquired the ability to assess behavioral outcomes. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between self‒management ability and self‒efficacy among patients with subjective symptoms （r＝.338）.
The present findings indicate the need for nursing involvement to enable patients to appropriately assess the outcome of their own behavior. The self‒management ability survey items developed during the present study can be used as an intervention index during such nursing intervention.
