The Effect of Education and Telephone Follow-up Provided to Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy on Symptom Management and Self-Care Agency

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of education and telephone follow-up provided to cancer patients receiving immunotherapy on symptom management and self-care agency. Methods: The data for this study were collected from the outpatient chemotherapy unit of an educational research hospital. The study sample consisted of cancer patients who agreed to participate in the study and who were receiving immunotherapy for the first time and exclusively (n=69). In the first phase of the study, interviews were conducted with 22 cancer patients receiving immunotherapy to develop the content of the educational booklet. Participants were divided into an intervention group (n=34) and a control group (n=35) using a randomization list. Participants in the intervention group received face-to-face education using the developed educational booklet and were followed up by telephone for three months. The control group received standard care. Participants in the intervention group were assessed twice after receiving the education: at the end of the first cycle and at the end of the third cycle. Demographic and medical characteristics were collected using a patient information form, telephone interview form, telephone interview evaluation form, Nightingale Symptom Assessment Scale, and Self-Care Agency Scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, t-test for independent samples, Mann Whitney U test to examine differences in scale scores between groups, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs test to examine differences in scale scores between measurement times were used to evaluate the data. Results: The intervention significantly enhanced self-care capacity among patients receiving immunotherapy (p < 0.05, G = 1.78). Moreover, physical and social well-being scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Education and telephone follow-up provided to cancer patients receiving immunotherapy were found to be effective in increasing patients' self-care capacity and managing possible symptoms (p<0.05, G=1.78, G=0.55).