The impact of video-assisted education on quality of life of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Background: The education given in cancer process will contribute to better cope with the problems that may be experienced and to improve self-management skills, thus to the improvement in the quality of life.

Aim/objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of video-assisted education on the quality of life of women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy treatment for the first time.

Design: The control group pre-test/post-test study design was used.

Methods: The study was conducted with women who applied to Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit of a university hospital in Turkey between September 2016 and March 2017 and who received chemotherapy for the first time. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires namely EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 were used to obtain the data.

Results: In the education group patients in the fourth cycle of chemotherapy; a decrease in general well-being and a significant increase in dyspnoea, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite were observed. In control group patients in the fourth cycle of chemotherapy, a decrease in general well-being, physical and role functions and a significant increase in nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Breast symptoms and arm symptoms in the educational group patients decreased from the 1st to the 4th cycle.

Conclusions: It has been determined that the application of visual material in patients with breast cancer in the education and counselling process is effective in improving the quality of life.