The effect of telephone follow-up and education based on orem's self-care deficit theory on colorectal cancer chemotherapy patients' self-care agency, anxiety, loneliness and well-being

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the effect of telephone follow-up and the education based on Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory on colorectal cancer chemotherapy patients' self-care agency, anxiety, loneliness and well-being. Method: This randomized controlled study carried out this study with 47 patients (24 experimental group, 23 control group) who received chemotherapy in the Daytime Chemotherapy Unit of Akdeniz University and met the study inclusion criteria between April, 2016 and March, 2017. Data was collected by using a patient information form, the Self-Care Behaviors Form, the Nightingale Symptom Assessment Scale, the Self-Care Agency Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale III and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Before chemotherapy, the experimental group patients were given individualized education based on Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory, including self-care behaviors for possible symptoms and an educational booklet was also given to each participant. Two to five days after receiving the first, second and third steps of the treatment, the patients were follow-up by telephone. At the end of the first and third steps, the scales were administered to them and issues requiring education was discussed with face to face interview method. Results: This study determined that the commonly displayed self-care behaviors of colorectal cancer patients were: taking anti-nausea medicine, planning time for rest and drinking eight to ten glasses of fluid a day. It was found that self-care agency, general well-being and its sub-dimensions; physical, social and psychological well-being, of experimental group significantly increased compared to the control group and that their state-trait anxiety and loneliness levels significantly decreased. Conclusion: The study findings showed that telephone follow-up and the education based on Orem's self-care deficit theory increased colorectal chemotherapy patients' self-care agency and well-being and reduced their anxiety and loneliness levels. Key words: Colorectal cancer, chemotherapy, education and telephone follow-up, nursing, Orem's self-care deficit theory