Evaluation of self-care with oncology patients who recieve chemotherapy treatments

This study was aimed to elavuate the symptoms and to determine the self-care requirements on cancer patients who have received chemotherapy treatment. This research was applied on a total 97 cancer patients who have received chemotherapy treatment in chemotherapy unit of a oncology center in İstanbul between July 2015 and August 2015. The Patient Information Form was used to collect the data. In the study, personal properties of patients, properties of illness, side effects of chemotherapy treatment, properties of self-care applications were evaluated. Moreover,the approachings of self-care against to the most important side effects depending on the treatment; which are mucositis, skin problems, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, pain, fire, anorexia, neutropenia, alopecia; were explained. Patients were mostly between 48-61 years old, female, education degree in university but not working, medium salary level, having deal with maintenance of him/her. Lung, colon and breast cancers were most common. The diagnosis of their illness was mostly determined within a year. They had been informed about treatment, side effects of this treatment and period of discharge. They could survive at almost same life quality with before the disease depends on the self-care applications. According to our results, patients were effected from nausea, mucositis, constipation; most of them fall medium degree fatigue. Moreover, hygenic precautions, preventing from infection and controlling body temperature were noticed as a most important self-care applications. The suggestions were listed about assessing and controlling fatigue and nausea and planning to education programs. Keywords: Chemotherapy, cancer, self-care, symptom evaluation, self-care needs.