The effect of mobile-based education given to patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery on quality of life

Introduction: Gynecologic cancers are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Improving the quality of life of gynecologic oncology patients is gaining importance due to the increase in life expectancy with treatment after diagnosis. Patient education can be provided with many innovative approaches to support patient quality of life. One of these approaches is mobile-based applications. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of mobile-based education on the quality of life of gynecologic oncology patients in the postoperative period. Method: This randomized controlled experimental design study was conducted between February 1 and September 30, 2024, with 77 patients, 38 in the experimental group and 39 in the control group. Descriptive Information Form, Cancer Patient Quality of Life Scale, Symptom Assessment Form, and Distress Thermometer were used for data collection. Patients were interviewed face-to-face before surgery, at discharge, and by telephone in the first and second weeks after discharge, and data collection forms were completed. Results: Socio-demographic characteristics, general health status, cancer diagnosis, type of surgery, and findings related to discharge were similar (p>0.05). It was determined that the control group presented to the hospital with more health problems after discharge than the experimental group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the women's mean quality of life scores in the experimental and control groups at the first preoperative interview (p=.095). In the first and second postoperative follow-up, the mean quality of life score of the women in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p=,000). It was determined that the symptom severity in the experimental group, which received postoperative mobile application-based training and was followed up at the first and second follow-ups, was lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the distress thermometer scores of the women in the experimental and control groups at the first preoperative interview (p=,616) and postoperative discharge (p=,077). The distress thermometer score of the control group was significantly higher than the experimental group at the first follow-up (p=,004) and second follow-up (p=,044) after discharge. Conclusion: Mobile-based education improved the quality of life of patients who underwent gynecologic oncology surgery.