الفهرس 
AbstractOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Elderly cancer patients receiving chemotherapy may face many challenges as a result of co morbidity, polypharmacy, poor nutritional and functional status and chemotherapy toxicity. Nursing rehabilitation program is crucial to overcome these complications and improve quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of proposed nursing rehabilitation program on self management of selected side effects of chemotherapy for elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. To fulfill such aim the following research hypotheses were tested: H1: The study group will have a decreased intensity of chemotherapy adverse effects as compared to the control group. H2: The study group will have improvement in their functional status as compared to the control group.H3: The study group will have improvement in their nutritional status as compared to the control group.H4: The posttest mean knowledge scores of the study group will be higher than that of the control group. H5: The posttest mean self management scores of the study group will be higher than that of the control group. Quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. A convenience sample of 60 elderly male and female patients were randomly divided into two equal and matched groups (study and control). Five tools were utilized for data collections; 1) Socio- demographic and medical profile data tool, 2) Comprehensive Geriatric assessment tool, 3) Chemotherapy induced toxicities tool, 4) Oral care assessment tool, 5) Pre- post knowledge assessment and self management tool. The study results revealed the following: there was statistically significant difference between study and control group subjects in relation to intensity of chemotherapy adverse effects as nausea and vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea during the course of chemotherapeutic cycles. Barthel Index sores of self care was higher in the study group than control group, while Barthel Index scores of mobility were lower in the study group than the control group. There was significant statistical difference between study and control group subjects regarding nutritional status after the last chemotherapeutic cycles. Posttest mean knowledge scores related to chemotherapy functions, adverse effects, elimination, mucositis, oral care and balanced diet and posttest mean self management scores related to elimination, mucositis, nausea and vomiting, oral care practice were higher in the study group than the control group. In conclusion nursing rehabilitation program seemed to have a positive impact on the study subjects’ outcomes. Therefore, replication of this study on a larger probability sample would be of great beneficence to patients and health care team especially nurses to enhance self care abilities of their patients to prevent or minimize side effects of chemotherapy.