The use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy reduces the skin side effects due to radiation therapy. When combined with a complete health educa-tion, the intensity of self-care is increased and side effects are decreased.
Purpose: This study determines the effect of multi-stage self-care health education for patients with breast cancer who are subject to intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
65 patients with breast cancer who receive radiotherapy were enrolled. The data for the patients who received multi-stage nursing health education was used to grade and record acute skin side effects in patients using CTCAE and RTOG and for a statistical analysis of the factors affecting skin side effects.
Data from a total of 65 patients from February 2014 to March 2016 was collected. The patients completed 4 nursing health education and assessments. In terms of acute side effects, 1 patient (1.5%) suffered from RTOG grade 0, 54 patients (83.1%) suffered from RTOG grade 1 and 10 patients (15.4%) suffered from RTOG grade 2. 55 patients (84.6%) suffered from CTCAE Grade 1 and 10 patients (15.4%) suffered from CTCAE Grade 2. No patients suffered from Grade 3 RTOG or CTCAE.
This study determines that most patients (85%) experience Grade 0-1 acute skin side effects. Multi-stage self-care nursing health education for patients and timely assessments reduce the overall incidence of acute skin side effects in patients with breast cancer during radiotherapy.