The effect on nausea and vomiting of education given to lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect on nausea and vomiting of planned education given to male lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In this quasi-experimental study with control group, the first 20 patients who came to the clinic for chemotherapy were included in the control group and the next 20 patients were included in the control group. Estimated sample size was calculated as at least 20, alpha value was 0.05, and power (1-β) was calculated as 0.80. According to this result, a total of 40 patients who 20 patients for both control and education group were included in the study. Data were collected from Department of Chest Diseases and outpatient chemotherapy unit of the Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital. The patients were given pre-chemotherapy training through the prepared education booklet and structured education which it lasted about 30 minutes for each patient before chemotherapy. The mean intensity of nausea in the first 24 hours was 5.81 in the education group and 7.52 in the control group (p = 0.049). It was determined that the education given to the patients decreased the severity of the nausea in the first 24 hours in the education group patients. The mean experienced nausea severity in the first 7 days after chemotherapy was found to be 4.15 in the education group and 6.25 in the control group and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.010). Planned education given by nurses decreased on the severity of nausea. Nurses may be able to raise nausea management in cancer patients to a better level by education intervention. Keywords: Chemotherapy, Nausea, Vomiting, Patient Education, Nurse