Effect of Chemotherapy Patient Education Using the Teach-Back Method on Symptom Management and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the teach-back method in managing chemotherapy symptoms and improving quality of life. A secondary aim was to develop more effective care and education frameworks for cancer treatment. A single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 80 patients who received chemotherapy between June 2022 and May 2023. Patients in the intervention group were educated about the chemotherapy process using the teach-back method, while those in the control group received standard education. Data were collected using a participant information form, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), and the EQ-5D Quality of Life Scale. Statistical significance was accepted as p < 0.05 for all tests. In both groups, EQ-5D scores increased with the number of chemotherapy cycles, indicating a negative impact on quality of life. However, this increase was smaller in the intervention group. As the number of cycles increased, the intervention group scored lower on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale compared to the control group. The results of the study show that using the teach-back method in patient education is effective in the management of chemotherapy-related symptoms and improving overall quality of life.