Sahin, Z.A., & Erguney, S. (2016). Effect on symptom management education receiving patients of chemotherapy. Journal of Cancer Education, 31, 101–107.

To examine the effect of a planned educational program on symptom control

Patients were randomly assigned to the education or waitlist control/usual care group. The educational intervention consisted of face-to-face educational sessions prior to each chemotherapy cycle provided to patients, caregivers, and family members. Symptom management education, support, and opportunity for discussion were provided.

• N = 140   
• MEAN AGE = 58.9 years
• MALES: 45%, FEMALES: 55%
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: All had hematologic cancers and were beginning initial chemotherapy.
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Sixty-four percent were married, and 22% had no more than primary education.

• SITE: Single-site   
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
• LOCATION: Turkey

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Randomized, controlled trial

Not specified

The prevalence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and difficulty sleeping were significantly lower after the intervention in the education group (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence of these symptoms increased in the control group.

The findings suggest that an educational intervention can be beneficial in managing symptoms related to cancer treatment.

• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no appropriate attentional control condition)
• Measurement/methods not well described
• Measurement validity/reliability questionable
• Method of randomization not described
• How symptom data were measured/obtained is unclear.

Patient education may be helpful in managing symptoms during cancer treatment. Education is necessary but may not be sufficient for symptom control.