An Evaluation of the Influence of Web-Based Patient Education on the Anxiety and Life Quality of Patients Who Have Undergone Mammaplasty: a Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of web-based education on the anxiety and quality of life of patients who were hospitalized and underwent breast surgery (modified radical mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery) with axilla lymph node dissection. The patients were divided into three groups by the block randomization method as follows: web-based education group, brochure group, and control group (totalN = 75). To obtain the study data, the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer and Data Collection Form for the Disease, SF 36 Quality of Life Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Website Usability Scale were used. The learning content was patient education associated with the pre-operative and post-operative periods. The differences in the state of anxiety scores 1 day before surgery, the 2nd day after surgery, and 1 month after surgery were statistically lower in the web-based education group than in the other two groups. The mean difference in the trait anxiety scores after 1 month was higher in the control group than in the other two groups. Web-based patient education was identified as a more effective method than the brochure and control groups in terms of patients' physical and emotional well-being, vitality/fatigue, and role limitations emotional and general health perception. Web-based patient education is effective in decreasing the anxiety of patients and improving their quality of life.