Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The frequency and management of radiotherapy complications, and attitude of patients regarding self-treatment: A cross sectional study in Kashan 2022-2024

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors
Negin Enayati 1
Negin Masoudi Alavi 2
Ismail Azizi-Fini 2
1 MSc in Medical Surgical Nursing, Ayatollah Yasrebi Hospital, Clinical Research Development Center, Kashan, Iran
2 Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i877.2257
Abstract
Background: Radiotherapy in patients with malignancies, cause many complications. The information about the prevalence of these complications and their management is limited. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the frequency of radiotherapy complications, their management and the attitude of patients towards self-treatment in a referral radiation therapy center in Kashan in 2022-2024.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 patients undergoing radiotherapy were recruited to the study sequentially. The characteristics of the patients and the occurrence of complications and its manage were recorded by a checklist. The attitude towards self-treatment was investigated by a researcher-made 26-items questionnaire. The data represented by descriptive indices such as the frequencies and correlation of self-treatment and related factors were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis, and multiple regression tests. The significance level was 0.05
Findings: 63.2% of the participants were women. The most common type of malignancy was breast cancer (28.5%). The most common side effects were: fatigue (73.5%), weakness and lethargy (68%), and skin burns (60.7%). Only 22 patients (5.5%) were practicing self-treatment. Many patients did not receive any treatment to reduce complications. The score of self-treatment attitude was 93.18 ± 17.3, which was a sign of low desire for self-treatment. In multiple regression the attitude towards self-treatment showed a significant relation with higher age, lower education, and negative history of chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Side effects of radiation therapy are common and this need proper management.

Highlights

Negin Masoudi Alavi: Google Scholar , PubMed

Ismail Azizi Fini: Google Scholar , PubMed

Keywords
Radiotherapy
Neoplasms
Complications
Self-medication
Self-care
Subjects
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 44, Issue 877
4th Week, October
September and October 2026
Pages 2257-2266

  • Receive Date 05 February 2025
  • Revise Date 21 August 2026
  • Accept Date 08 September 2026