Effect of Educational Program on Self-management among Elderly Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Background & Aim: Effective chronic disease self-management requires patients to have the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in self-care tasks, develop and maintain a satisfactory quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational program on self-management among elderly patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in liver diseases center in El-Ahrar Teaching Hospital at Zagazig City. The study sample composed of 80 elderly patients with liver cirhosis, purposively assigned according to study inclusion criteria. Twelve sessions for small groups (2 to 4 elderly patients in each group) were held as part of the program's implementation in the current study. Three tools were used; interview questionnaire which is composed of two parts: Demographic characteristics and Health profile of the studied elderly patients, Modified Self-Management Knowledge Questionnaire, and Self-management behavior scale.

Results: The study findings reported that only16.3% of the studied elderly patients had satisfactory total self-management knowledge pre-program, and then improved to became77.5% post-program. Also, there was improvement in total mean score of elderly patients s’ self-management behavior domains post program with a highly statistically significant difference (P< 0.01) between pre and post program. Additionally, there was statistical significant positive correlations between the studied elderly patients’ total self-management knowledge and total self-management behavior (r =0.601).

Conclusion: The applied educational program was effective in increasing self-management knowledge level and promoting self-management behavior among studied elderly patients with liver cirrhosis.