The Effect of Comprehensive Care Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Abstract

This study was done to investigate the effects of comprehensive care program on cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, immune response, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Participants were 40 ovarian cancer survivors, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, at C university hospital gynecological cancer center from May 2009, to December 2010. The treatment was a comprehensive care program for 8 weeks consisting of group education and self-help group support, home-based exercise, and relaxation. Data were analyzed by t test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Cardiopulmonary function, measured by 12-min walk distance; muscle strength, measured by the chair-stand test; and quality of life were more increased in the experimental group. But immune response was not statistically significant. These results indicate that the comprehensive care program is an effective nursing intervention to improve cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors.