الخلاصة

Assessment of Physical Problems Related to Chemotherapy among Patients with Cancer in Al-Najaf City Summary: Introduction: Cancer is considered as a main problem among people and a main cause of distress and mortality globally. Chemotherapy is the common cancer treatment that is used to kill the cancer cells and in addition to the benefit of the chemotherapy in the treatment of cancers disease. It can also lead to many physical problems. Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out in the Middle Euphrates Cancer Center / at Al-Najaf City. The study started from November 3rd, 2015 to June 26th, 2016, in order to assess the physical problems related to chemotherapy for cancer patient who receiving chemotherapy and find out the relationship between socio-clinical data for Cancer patients who receive chemotherapy and their physical problems. Sampling: A non-probability (purposive) sampling technique was used consisting of (101) Patient (99 female patient and 2 male patient) with cancer under chemotherapy treatment. Developed questionnaire was implemented by the researcher that consists of three parts including, part I: Demographic characteristics, part II: Clinical data and part III: physical problems related to chemotherapy. Validity is determined through a panel of experts consisting of (17) experts. And reliability of the questionnaire was determined through pilot study. The collection of data was done through interview method by the researcher with cancer patients. The research data was analyzed by the descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentage and mean of score) and inferential statistics (Chi- square). Result: The finding of the research has revealed that the majority of the study sample are female. The study result shows there is significant relationship between the clinical data (last treatment session, primary cancer site, stage of disease at diagnosis and World Health Organization performance status) with the physical problems related to chemotherapy. Conclusion: The study has concluded that the socio-demographic characteristics of patient that who undergoes chemotherapy has no influence on the side effect of chemotherapy, and the patients who received chemotherapy complain from many physical problems like anemia, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, neurologic and pain that make them feel tired and unable to participate in their daily living activities. Recommendation: The study recommends to involve the nursing staff in educational courses to improve their knowledge about chemotherapy side effect and appropriate interventions to reduce these effects. Provide assistance when cancer patients complain from fatigue and teaching their families to provide assistance to their patient at home in appropriate ways.