Factors influencing infection prevention self-care behaviors in patients with hematologic cancer after discharge

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the conditions and influencing factors behind infection prevention self-care behaviors performed at home by hematologic cancer patients with a central venous catheter inserted before hospital discharge, and to identify additional external factors influencing these self-care behaviors. Methods: This is a descriptive survey study conducted with 147 patients with hematologic cancer who were hospitalized and re-admitted to a university hospital in Korea. Infection prevention self-care behaviors, knowledge, and family support were measured using scales developed through a preliminary survey and validity testing. Results: The score for infection prevention self-care behaviors was 3.67 +/- 0.81 (out of 5), knowledge was 68.8 +/- 18.2 (out of 100), and family support was 4.21 +/- 2.14 (out of 7). Infection prevention self-care knowledge (beta = 0.443, p < 0.001) and economic status (beta = 2.102, p = 0.05) both had a significant effect on infection prevention self-care behaviors. The total explanatory power for infection prevention self-care behaviors by two variables was 37.1%. Conclusions: Infection prevention self-care behaviors were found to be significantly affected by infection prevention self-care knowledge and economic status. Developing and applying effective educational programs to improve infection prevention self-care knowledge will increase self-care behaviors. Additionally, nursing interventions should assess patients economic status, their performance of oral care and knowledge of central venous catheter management.