The Effectiveness of the Web-based Education Programme Among Cancer Patients

NCT05076916 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2520
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 53
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study aims to develop a web-based education program among cancer patients undergoing treatment of systemic chemotherapy and to evaluate the effect of the program on symptom control, quality of life, self-efficacy, and depression. Evaluating the effect of the web-based education programme among cancer patients will be useful in planning appropriate remote nursing interventions to increase the symptom control and quality of life of patients. A web-based education program was prepared in line with patient needs, evidence-based guidelines, and expert opinions and tested with 10 cancer patients. A single-blind, randomised controlled study design was applied. Pre-tests were applied to 60 cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy, and the patients (intervention:30, control: 30) were randomized. The intervention group used the web-based education program for three months, and they were allowed to communicate with the researchers 24/7 via the website. The effectiveness of the web-based education program at baseline and after 12 weeks evaluated.

Conditions

Web-based Intervention; Cancer

Keywords

Cancer; Nursing; Self Efficacy; Symptom Management; Quality of Life; Web-Based Education

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Rotterdam Symptom Checklist

  The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist is used to evaluate the problems of patients with cancer developing due to the symptoms they experience. The items on the scale are scored between 1 and 4 by using a Likert-type scoring system. The scale consists of 39 items and has 4 sub-dimensions: Physical Symptom Discomfort, Psychological Discomfort, Activity Level, and Quality of Life. The higher the scores obtained from the scale, the greater the distress. Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was determined as 0.88.

  12 week

• EORTC-QLQ-C30 Quality of Life Scale

  The EORTC-QLQ-C30 Quality of Life Scale was developed to measure the quality of life of patients with cancer. It includes 30 questions and three sub-dimensions: General Well-Being, Functional Difficulties, and Symptom Control. The maximum score on the scale is 100, and the minimum is 0. High scores on the functional sub-dimension indicate good/healthy functional status, high scores on the symptom sub-dimension indicate high levels of symptoms and/or problems, and high scores on the global health status/quality of life sub-dimension indicate good quality of life.

  12 week

• Strategies Used by Patients to Promote Health

  This scale is used to assess the self-confidence of individuals in fulfilling the strategies they use to improve health. It consists of 29 items under 3 sub-dimensions, namely, coping with stress, decision making, and positive behavior development. The scores that can be obtained from the scale range from 29 to 145, and increased scores indicate an increased level of self-efficacy. Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found as 0.92.

  12 week

• Beck Depression Scale

  Beck Depression Scale is a self-assessment scale that measures the symptoms of depression observed in physical, emotional, cognitive, and motivational areas. The purpose of the scale is not to diagnose of depression, but to objectively measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Each of the 21 items on the scale includes four statements numbered 0, 1, 2, and 3. Two of the items on the scale are reserved for emotions, eleven items for cognitions, two items for behavior, five items for somatic symptoms, and one item for interpersonal symptoms. The total score that can be obtained from the scale varies between 0 and 63, and the scores are interpreted as follows: 0-9, no depression; 10-15, mild depression, 16-23 moderate depression, and 24-63 severe depression.

  12 week

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The web-based education program was introduced to the patients with cancer in the intervention group during face-to-face interviews. They were asked to examine the program for at least two hours a week for three months. During the follow-up period, the patients in the intervention group were called twice a week and reminded to use the education program. The researchers get in contact with the patients online via the website. During the follow-up period, the patients contact the research team by calling or writing messages via the website 24/7. An e-mail account was created by the research team using the email system of the university, and it was shared with the patients. The clinical researchers of the team answered the patients' questions via this e-mail account. In the third month, after the follow-up stage of the study was completed, the post-tests were administered to the patients in the intervention group who came to the hospital for follow-up or treatment.

Behavioral: The effectiveness of the web-based education programme among cancer patients

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group received routine patient education and routine hospital follow-ups given by Oncology Education Nurses during the three-month follow-up period. In the third month, after the follow-up stage of the study was completed, the post-tests were administered to the patients in the control group who came to the hospital for follow-up or treatment.

Interventions

The effectiveness of the web-based education programme among cancer patients BEHAVIORAL

The web-based education program was introduced to the patients with cancer in the intervention group during face-to-face interviews. They were asked to examine the program for at least two hours a week for three months. During the follow-up period, the patients in the intervention group were called twice a week and reminded to use the education program. The researchers get in contact with the patients online via the website. The patients contact the research team by calling or writing messages via the website 24/7. An e-mail account was created by the research team using the email system of the university, and it was shared with the patients. The clinical researchers of the team answered the patients' questions via this e-mail account.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Between 18-70 years
• Received at least two cycles of systemic chemotherapy
• Had no verbal communication disorder
• Literate
• Had Internet access
• Use the Internet

You may not qualify if:

• Having diagnosed with psychiatric disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Akdeniz University: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Bektas H, Coskun HS, Arikan F, Ozcan K, Tekeli A, Kondak Y, Sezgin MG, Yangec E, Kalav S. Development and evaluation of the efficacy of a web-based education program among cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Jul;30(7):6021-6033. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07039-w. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

  PMID: 35412076 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Study Officials

• Hicran Bektas, PhD, RN

  Akdeniz University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Hasan S Coskun, Medical Dr

  Akdeniz University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Fatma Arikan, PhD, RN

  Akdeniz University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: For assigning each patient to a group, the subjects were assigned to the groups according to the randomization list created. Two independent researchers conducted the assignment of the participants on the intervention and control groups and the evaluation of the outcome measurement data. Since the researchers conducted the interventions, they were not be blinded. However, the participants were blinded because they did not know the hypotheses of the study and which group they were in.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD, Professor

Model Details: The effect of the web-based education program on patient outcomes was analyzed by dividing the participants into groups through randomization. All patients with cancer who met the sampling criteria were assigned to the intervention and control groups through block randomization (1:1). The web-based education program was introduced to the patients with cancer in the intervention group during face-to-face interviews. They were asked to examine the program for at least two hours a week for three months. During the follow-up period, the patients in the intervention group were called twice a week and reminded to use the education program. The researchers get in contact with the patients online via the website. During the follow-up period, the patients contact the research team by calling or writing messages via the website 24/7. The control group received routine patient education and routine hospital follow-ups given by Oncology Education Nurses during the three-month follow-up period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2021
• First Posted: October 13, 2021
• Study Start: May 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2015
• Study Completion: February 1, 2016
• Last Updated: October 13, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share