Development and evaluation of the efficacy of a web-based education program among cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: The study aimed to develop a web-based education program among cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy and to evaluate the efficacy of the program on symptom control, quality of life, self-efficacy, and depression. METHODS: A web-based education program was prepared in line with patient needs, evidence-based guidelines, and expert opinions and tested with 10 cancer patients. The single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted at a medical oncology unit of a university hospital. Pretests were applied to 60 cancer patients undergoing treatment with systemic chemotherapy, and the patients (intervention: 30, control: 30) were randomized. The intervention group used a web-based education program for 3 months, and they were allowed to communicate with researchers 24/7 via the website. The efficacy of a web-based education program at baseline and after 12 weeks was evaluated. The CONSORT 2010 guideline was performed. RESULTS: In the first phase results of the study, it was found that most of the patients with cancer wanted to receive education about symptom management and the side effects of the treatment. Expert opinions on the developed website were found to be compatible with each other (Kendall’s Wa = 0.233, p = 0.008). According to the randomized controlled study results, patients who received web-based education reported significantly fewer symptoms (p = 0.026) and better quality of life (p = 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in the self-efficacy and depression levels during the 3-month follow-up period (p˃0.05). The most frequently visited links in the web-based education program by the patients with cancer were the management of chemotherapy-related symptoms (62.6%). CONCLUSION: A web-based education program was found to be efficacy in remote symptom management and improving the quality of life of cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05076916 (October 12, 2021, retrospectively registered). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-022-07039-w.