Effect of Educa
Effect of Educational Program Regarding Therapeutic
Exercises on Women's Pain, Fatigue and Shoulder Function Undergoing Mastectomy
Nadia Mohamed Taha1;
Magda Abdel Azeaz2; Abdel Rahman Hassan3 and Amal
Eid Shaban4
1Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of
Nursing, Zagazig University, 2Ain Shams University,
4Mansoura
University and 3Surgery Department Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig
University
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in females
worldwide and the most prevalent cancer among Egyptian women. Breast cancer and its treatment result in physical and
psychological problems; pain, fatigue and dysfunction. It is the
responsibility of the nurse to identify the breast cancer patient's needs, make
appropriate nursing diagnosis and initiate plans for care. Aim of the study: toassess
the impact of an educational program regarding therapeutic exercises for
women’s pain, fatigue and shoulder function that are undergoing mastectomy.
This study was hypothesized that there would be an improvement of patients’
information, pain, fatigue and shoulder function by using the therapeutic
exercises. Quasi experimental design was utilized in this study. It was
conducted at Oncology Center Mansoura University. Purposive sample included
(80) patients with preliminary diagnosis of breast cancer, were admitted to female surgical units, scheduled for Modified radical mastectomy and
weredivided random equally into study and control groups; (40) patients
in each group. Tools: used for data collection included an interviewing
questionnaire sheet, Numerical Rating scale, Fatigue
Severity scale and Shoulder Pain and
Disability Index, performance observational checklists, and follow up sheet. Results:
The mean age of the studied women 45.25 and 46.06. The majority of the women in
both groups were married; housewives and 45% were illiterate. There was a
highly significant difference in patients' level of information, pain
intensity, fatigue severity, and shoulder dysfunction of the study group as
compared to the control group. This means that the educational program had positive effect in reducing
patients' pain, fatigue and shoulder dysfunction, post program and after one
month of implementation of the educational program. Conclusion: There were a
statistical significance difference between the two groups in relation to
information, fatigue severity, pain intensity, shoulder pain and disability, and performance post program and follow-up
after one month. Deep breathing and Progressive muscle relaxation techniques,
arm and shoulder exercises, and patient's education are useful adjuvant
techniques to complement medical treatment. Recommendations: Continuous
educational health programs are recommended. So incorporation of such
interventions in the care plan can enhance the care for surgical breast cancer
patients and greatly improve their quality of life.
[Magda Abdel Azeaz; Nadia Mohamed Taha, Abd Elrahman
Hassan and Amal Eid Shaban. Effect of Educational Program Regarding
Therapeutic Exercises on Women's Pain, Fatigue and Shoulder Function Undergoing
Mastectomy. J Am Sci 2013;9(3):412-425]. (ISSN:
1545-1003).http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 66
Key words: therapeutic exercises, pain, fatigue, arm and shoulder
exercises, mastectomy, and progressive muscle relaxation technique. Full Text 66
