Effect of Distance Education (Telenursing) on Reducing the Anxiety of Prostate Cancer Patients after Chemotherapy: A Semi-experimental Study

Abstract

Background and Objective: Educational programs can help improve the health status of cancer patients. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the impact of telenursing on the reduction of anxiety in prostate cancer patients after chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted using the available sampling method in 2022 on 60 people (30 people in each group) from prostate cancer patients referred to Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, Iran. After random assignment, the control group received routine treatments, and the intervention group received telephone follow-up in addition to routine treatments for 12 weeks (twice in the first six weeks and once in the second six weeks). Data collection tools were Beck's demographic information and anxiety questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (paired and independent t-test and Chi-square) in SPSS software (version 20). Results: The mean anxiety scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention were not statistically significant (P≥0.05). However, after the implementation of the intervention, this difference became significant so that the amount of anxiety decreased in the intervention group (P≤0.05). Conclusion: Telephone training and follow-up effectively reduce the anxiety of prostate cancer patients. This method is recommended to be performed by nurses for cancer patients.

Keywords

• anxiety
• prostate cancer
• telenursing