The effect of nursing intervention guided by Illness Beliefs Model on health-related quality of life in persons with head and neck cancer during radiation therapy
Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi - experimental research was to examine the effect of nursing intervention guided by Illness Beliefs Model on health-related quality of life in persons with head and neck cancer during radiation therapy. Study sample consisted of 40 patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy at Ubonratchathani Cancer Center. Convenience Sampling was used to recruited subjects for this study. Subjects were matched by age, tumor stage, and tumor site, and then they were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group(n=20). The control group received conventional nursing care while the experimental group received nursing intervention guided by Illness Beliefs Model. The intervention using therapeutic conversation technique comprised of 4 sessions: a) Creating a context for changing beliefs, b) Assessing, uncovering, and distinguishing illness beliefs, c) Intervening and challenging constraining beliefs, and d) Distinguishing change: Bringing forth facilitating illness beliefs. Data collection instrument was Health-related quality of life questionnaire. The instrument was validated by panel of experts and tested for reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient =.80). Statistical techniques used in data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test.
Major results were as follows:
1. Health-related quality of life score of persons with head and neck cancer during radiation therapy after receiving the nursing intervention guided by Illness Beliefs Model was significantly higher than before receiving the intervention (X=5.17, SD=.23 and X=4.82, SD=.51 p<.05).
2. Health-related quality of life score of persons with head and neck cancer in the experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group (X=5.17, SD=.23 and X=4.86, SD=.47 p<.05).