Date of Award

Spring 1984

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

Abstract

The diagnosis of cancer evokes both physical and psychological stress. Nursing literature indicates that inadequate knowledge regarding the individual's illness and proposed treatment is one source of stress. Therefore, one goal of patient education is to minimize the anxiety associated with cancer. Patient education has also been shown to enhance the person's ability to cope with cancer and cancer treatment. Hence, a second goal of patient education is to promote coping. In order to reduce anxiety and promote coping, the oncology patient needs knowledge regarding diagnosis, prognosis, treatments, potential side effects of treatments, self care management, good health habits, cancer myths, and emotional responses. Furthermore, educating the oncology patient must be a continuing process based upon the individual's learning needs and abilities. The writer developed a general teaching tool to assist nurse educators in the presentation of information about chemotherapy as a cancer treatment modality. The teaching tool is a flip chart, approximately ten inches by thirteen inches with drawings as illustrations on one side of the page and written information about the subject on the other side of the page. The flip chart is designed as an interactional tool so that the illustrations will be presented to the learner while the written information will be accessible to the educator. The contents of the flip chart include: the definition of cancer and chemotherapy, actions of chemotherapy, how chemotherapy is administered, possible side effects of chemotherapy and actions to minimize the side effects.

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