Effectiveness of a phone-based support program on self-care self-efficacy, psychological distress, and quality of life among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a Phone-Based Support Program (PBSP) for newly diagnosed women with breast cancer. METHODS: A two-group repeated measures randomized controlled trial was designed. Participants included 94 patients aged 18-60 years who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy in a tertiary hospital in China. They were randomly assigned to the intervention and the control groups. Participants in the intervention group were enrolled in a four-session PBSP, consisting of four interactive sections: learning, discussion, ask-the-expert, and personal stories, plus the routine care. Outcomes included patients' self-care self-efficacy, psychological distress (including symptom distress, anxiety, and depression), and quality of life. These were assessed at three time points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and follow-up (T3) by using the self-care self-efficacy scale, the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the global health status scale. RESULTS: After completion of the intervention, participants in the intervention group had significantly (p < .001) higher self-care self-efficacy (T2: Mdiff = 11.49, T3: Mdiff = 22.33), better quality of life (T2: Mdiff = 8.18, T3: Mdiff = 17.19), lower symptom distress (T2: Mdiff = -26.68, T3: Mdiff = -54.76), less anxiety (T2: Mdiff = -2.52, T3: Mdiff = -5.11), and less depression (T2: Mdiff = -3.61, T3: Mdiff = -6.71) than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the PBSP is effective. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, could utilize it to enhance self-care self-efficacy and quality of life, as well as decrease psychological distress among women newly diagnosed breast cancer. REGISTRATION: The Thai Clinical Trial Registry #TCTR20230321010.

Effects of a Phone-Based Support Program for Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: The increasing number of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy may result in long-lasting, adverse physical side effects and reduced quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility and preliminary effects of the Phone-Based Support Program for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The primary outcome was self-care self-efficacy; secondary outcomes were symptom distress and quality of life. Methods: This pilot study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu province, China, from February to March 2023. The Phone-Based Support Program was delivered to 20 participants through the smartphone application WeChat, consisting of learning, discussion, ask-the-expert, and personal stories components. Outcome measures were assessed at three time points: preintervention, postintervention, and follow-up. Results: The Phone-Based Support Program was feasible and could improve self-care self-efficacy, decrease symptom distress, and promote quality of life. The program was well-accepted, and participants engaged actively in the online discussion and sought expert advice. Conclusions: The Phone-Based Support Program showed feasibility and effectiveness in improving self-care self-efficacy, reducing symptom distress, and enhancing quality of life.

Effectiveness of Mobile Phone-Based Support on Exclusive Breastfeeding and Infant Growth in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether mobile phone-based support improve the rates, duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as well as infant growth patterns in Nigeria. METHODS: A 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial with 75 participants assigned to receive 'usual care' or 'mobile phone-based support in addition to usual care' EBF rates and duration as well as anthropometric measurements of infants before and after intervention were compared using proportions and mean differences. RESULTS: Attrition rates of 10.7% and 14.7% were observed in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Treatment groups were identical in all baseline characteristics and participants in the intervention group showed a slower rate of decline in the practice of EBF. The mean difference of 0.6 months (95% confidence interval: -0.22, 1.42) in EBF duration between intervention and control groups was not statistically significant (t = 1.45; p = 0.149). Similarly, the difference in the EBF rates at the 6th month for the intervention (55.2%) and control (46.8%) groups was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.623; p = 0.430). Although the intervention group had significantly higher mean weight (p = 0.030) and length (p = 0.044) at the 6th month, the difference in the gain in weight and length of these infants over the period was only significant for the weight (p = 0.044). Although the incidence of adverse clinical nutritional status was more in the control group, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Mobile phone-based intervention has positive effects on the rate and duration of EBF as well as the growth of young infants. Sustaining this simple and cheap technology will improve infant wellbeing especially in resource-constrained settings.