Effects of a Telehealth Program on Anxiety and Health-related Quality of Life among Patients with Breast Cancer
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Abstract
Purpose: To study the effects of a Telehealth program on anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast cancer.
Design: This quasi-experimental study using two-group pretest-posttest design guided by the transitional care framework.
Method: The study sample included newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients aged 18 years and older who were scheduled for their first elective surgery at the Breast Clinic of Siriraj Hospital. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to either experimental group (n = 43) receiving Telehealth program and usual care or the control group (n = 43) receiving usual care only. Data collection tools included the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Breast. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mixed-design ANOVA and one-way repeated measure ANOVA.
Main finding: The results revealed that the experimental group had significanty lower anxiety scores and higher average HRQoL scores over time, compared to the control group. Within the experimental group, a comparison of anxiety scores and HRQoL scores before and after receiving the Telehealth program demonstrated significant improvements over time (p < .05).
Conclusion and recommendations: These findings suggest that Telehealth program can be effectively integrated into both preoperative and postoperative care for patients with cancer to enhance patient preparedness for appropriate self-care practices which results in reduced anxiety, improved quality of life.
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