Mobile Self-Management Training for Lymphedema Prevention

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world and in our country and affects women negatively in many ways. Depending on the treatment, patients experience serious problems. Especially in patients with sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection, lymphedema frequently occurs in the postoperative period. Lymphedema can develop at any time after breast cancer surgery and is difficult to treat once it occurs. Lifelong self-management is essential for breast cancer patients to prevent lymphedema and control or delay its progression. In the literature, it has been reported that patients do not have sufficient information about lymphedema, are not aware that they may have lymphedema in the future and do not receive the necessary support. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of mobile technology supported self-management training for the prevention of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. The research will be conducted in two stages, methodological and randomized controlled pretest-posttest design. The population of the study will consist of patients diagnosed with breast cancer who have undergone breast surgery at least three months ago at Inonu University Turgut Özal Medical Center Oncology Hospital in Malatya province and who agree to participate in the study. The sample will consist of 147 people in the first stage and 120 people in the second stage, 60 for each group (experimental and control) determined by power analysis. People will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The research data will be collected using Personal Information Form, Lymphedema Self-Management Support Scale for Breast Cancer Survivors, Breast Cancer Survivorship Self-Efficacy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. As a result of the research, it will be determined how the mobile application affects the self-management and self-esteem of breast cancer patients. This mobile application developed in line with the results obtai