الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Literature review cited that chemotherapy-induced alopecia has become a significant health problem for cancer patients. Patients with chemotherapy-induced alopecia need knowledge counseling and support to enable them to adjust with it. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of scalp cooling on the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in post-mastectomy women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. This design of this study was a randamized control trial. This study was conducted at the chemotherapy unit in the Oncology Institute, Menofia University. Sixty patients with mastectomy and undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy who met the study criteria were selected. Patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups, a study group and control group of 30 patients each. The study group was received scalp cooling while receiving their chemotherapy cycle while the control group received the hospital routine. Based on review of relevant literature four tools were used. The tools included: structure interview questionnaire; Physiologic measurement tool of hair loss; Photo documentation before and after chemotherapy; and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Both groups, study group and control group were interviewed and their hair were assessed 6 times throughout the study by using WHO grading system of hair loss tool, baseline at the first chemotherapy cycle, Then the patient interviewed according to their chemotherapy cycle that repeated every 21 day for 6 cycles, as well as according to the given schedule. STAT anxiety was assessed two times, before the intervention and at the last assessment. The results showed that the scalp cooling group had delay total alopecia rate (90%) at sixth chemotherapy cycle when compared with those who did not use scalp cooling, as (80%) developed total alopecia after fourth cycle. About 6.7 % of the scalp cooling group had mild hair loss after sixth cycle as compared to none of the control group. (X2 = 2.07; P=0.05). Also the results displayed a significant reduction in the anxiety total score of the study group as compared with control group. There was a significant difference in the anxiety level between scalp cooling group and control group (P = < 0.05). It is concluded that scalp cooling during chemotherapy cycle was an effective nursing intervention for controlling total alopecia and improved psychological status of women with post mastectomy and undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. It is recommended that the women with post mastectomy and undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy should be encouraged to use scalp cooling to reduce total alopecia since the pharmacological intervention remains uncertain. Further psychological, clinical, and biophysical research is needed to improve the effect, tolerance, and side effects of the cooling procedure. |