Effect of Self-Care Strategies on Health Outcomes of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Context: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the prevailing form of primary liver cancer among adults and currently ranks as the primary cause of mortality in cirrhosis individuals. Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma holds the sixth position in terms of cancer-related fatalities. Efforts are underway to leverage self-care approaches, combining local and regional treatments with systemic therapeutic protocols to enhance patient outcomes throughout various disease stages.

Aim: Evaluate the effect of self-care strategies on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma health outcomes.

Methods: A quasi-experimental research, specifically a one-group pre/post-test design, was employed in this study. The research was conducted in the internal medicine units of Tanta Cancer Center, Tanta, Egypt. The study included a purposive sample of 60 patients of both genders over nine months. Three assessment tools were utilized: A structured interview questionnaire for gathering personal information, medical history, and patient knowledge, a self-care practice assessment scale, and a health outcomes assessment scale.

Results: Patients' knowledge scores regarding all the knowledge elements improved significantly post-implementation of self-care strategies compared with their pre-intervention levels. Total knowledge score improved post-self-care strategies implementation from 20% to 81.7% with a statistically significant difference between pre and post-implementation of the self-care strategies (X²=5.496, p=0.019). Also, the total self-care practice score increased from 16.7% to 68.3%, with a statistically significant difference between pre and post-implementation of the self-care strategies (X²=5.561, p=0.018). Regarding patients' health outcomes improved from experiencing severe symptoms among 53.4% to 6.7% post one month, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between pre and post-implementation of the self-care strategies regarding all assessed health outcomes (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Self-care strategies have effectively enhanced patients' knowledge, self-care practice, and overall health outcomes. The study results recommend providing ongoing patient education regarding self-care management for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma to effectively address symptoms and enhance their quality of life.