Effectiveness of Self-care Measures on Side Effects of Chemotherapy, Performance Status, and Quality of Life among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy at Selected Hospitals at Puducherry

Background: Cells that are uncontrolled in their growth, division, and invasion into other tissues are called cancerous tumors. Cell division is controlled by a person without cancer. In the majority of tissues, healthy cells reproduce and divide in a controlled manner to produce new healthy cells. This regular cell division becomes uncontrolled in cancer. Because of gene mutations, cells undergo morphological changes. All cancerous cells are the offspring of cancerous cells. Malignant cells are also blamed for the development of cancer cells within our bodies. During treatment for cancer, self-care is a crucial and necessary component of pleasure and wellness. According to research, self-care routines help lessen the negative consequences of stress, poor sleep, and anxiety. Objectives: The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of self-care measures on side effects of chemotherapy, performance status, and quality of life among patients undergoing chemotherapy in selected hospital at Puducherry. Methodology: The quantitative approach and Quasi experimental one group pre-test-post-test research design was used in this study among cancer patients at selected hospitals. Purposive sampling technique was adapted and sample size was 30. Samples were interviewed through standardized observation checklist to assess the self-care measures, side effects of chemotherapy, performance status, and quality of life. Results: The effectiveness of self-care instruction module among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in pretest 20 (66.7%) has poor quality of life, and 10 (33.3%) have neutral quality of life after giving self-care instruction module, 30 (100) have neutral quality of life. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status scale as in pretest 23 (76.7%) were in symptomatic, but ambulatory and symptomatic (<50%) in bed were 7 (23.3%) after giving self-care instruction module; 13 (43.3%) were in asymptomatic; and 17 (56.7%) were symptomatic but ambulatory. The overall symptoms of chemotherapy in pretest 19 (63.3%) have moderate symptoms and 11 (36.7%) have mild symptoms after giving self-care instruction module. Two (6.7%) have moderate symptoms, and 28 (93.3%) have mild symptoms.