Effect of Educational Nursing Intervention on Knowledge and Practices of Patients with Implantable Port Catheter and Undergoing Chemotherapy

Port systems play an important role in daily care of oncology patients. It provides safe and
reliable vascular access for patients on chemotherapy in general but is not without complications.
Patient education increases adherence to medication and treatment regimens, leading to a more
efficient and cost – effective health care delivery system. Aim of the study: Assess the effect of
educational nursing intervention on knowledge and practice of patients with implantable port
catheter undergoing chemotherapy. Study design: A quasi –experimental design with pre, post
assessment. Setting: This study was conducted at the Radiotherapy oncology and nuclear
Medicine center (outpatients' clinic) affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospital. Subjects: A
purposive sample of 50 patients from both sexes, alert, connected with implantable port catheter.
Data collection: data were collected using the following two tools: 1-Patient's knowledge
assessment questionnaire to assess patients' knowledge regarding the port catheter care. 2- Port
catheter care observational checklists to assess patient's practice regarding port catheter care.
Results: there were highly significance difference between mean and standard deviation of
patient's knowledge scores, practice scores and complications warning signs pre and post
educational nursing intervention. Also, there was significance difference between mean and
standard deviation of extravasation, and patients' anxiety level pre and post educational nursing
intervention. Conclusion: Educational nursing intervention has positive effect on knowledge and
practice of patients with implantable port catheter. Recommendations: An Arabic illustrated
booklet about implanted port catheter should be distributed for each patient newly connected with
implantable port catheter and undergoing chemotherapy.