위암환자 퇴원교육 프로그램이 환자와 가족의 전반적인 건강에 미치는 영향 = Effect of Discharge Education Program of Stomach Cancer Patient on Patient's and Caregiver's Coping and Quality of Life

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

A quasi-experimental study was conducted to see the effect of discharge education programs on the coping behavior and quality of life of both patients and caregivers. Subjects for this study were 40 postoperative male patients with the diagnosis of stomach cancer stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ and their caregivers. Theses subjects were assigned to either experimental or control group at researcher's convenience.
Before any treatments were given to experimental group, data were collected from both of groups using questionnaire developed by the research team. Then education and consultation for patients and caregivers in experimental group were given once at discharge time and 3 more during three weeks of period using education materials developed by research team, No treatment was given to the control group. Second data collection was done from two groups after 3 weeks using same questionnaire used for the pretest. All of the data collection and education were conducted by home care nurses.
Questionnaires for patients were health status assessment tool, coping behavior and quality of life. And questionnaires for caregivers are coping behavior and quality of life. Education materials used for this study were consistd of 5 small booklets. First booklet includes contents on stomach cancer and its treatment. Second one includes ways of solving problems which stomach cancer patients may encounter. Third one includes ways of helping the stomach cancer patients. Forth one includes ways of solving chemotherapy related problems. Fifth one includes ways of solving psychological problems.
Results of this study are follows : Health status of both groups deteriorated by 3%during 3 weeks. Symptoms of patients decreased by 4% in the experimental group and increased by 13% in control group. But most of coping behaviors used by patients both groups were rather passive than active such as not eating or doing nothing, but the quality of life decreased in both groups. Coping score for care givers has increased by 2% in experimental group and decreased by 2% in control group. Quality of life of caregivers has decreased by 1.5% in experimental group and increased by 5% om control group.
Even though we did not find many statisitically significant results between two groups. Findings of this study implies that in order to improve coping and quality of life cancer patients as well as caregivers, more active education programs are necessary.