“IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (KEP) ON STRESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL”

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer experience considerable stress, anxiety, fear, and depression.^1,2The emotional response to breast cancer adversely affect quality of life (QOL), and this may persist beyond treatment.^3,4 Proper knowledge regarding a disease clear patients doubt, relaxes a patient and helps a person to undergo the treatment modalities planned for him. Thus making the client compliant to the treatment plan and yielding effective outcome both in terms of cure and  prevention of  reoccurrence and help him to relieve stress and enhance resilience.^5,6.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a knowledge Enhancement program (KEP) on the knowledge, stress and QOL of breast cancer survivors.

Methods and analysis: This is a randomized controlled Trial  which will be performed using single blind parallel groups of 165  newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors admitted in medical and surgical oncology departments of a tertiary hospital in Goa to assess the impact of a knowledge enhancement program (KEP) on the stress and quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer survivors. Initially participants will be selected using purposive sampling method. Baseline data will be collected from the participants using knowledge, Stress & QOL assessment tools and then the participants will be allotted to intervention and control group using Simple block randomization sampling technique. The intervention group will receive knowledge enhancement program while the control group will receive regular hospital care. The study participants will be assessed before intervention, at 4 weeks and 12 weeks interval from the day of baseline data collection. Participants will be single blinded during data collection. Intention-to-treat will be used for the statistical analysis and descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to analyse the data

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been obtained from the Institutional ethics committee of the Tertiary hospital and Ph.D. Scholars University. Information sheet prepared based on Declaration of Helsinki to take informed consent from participants. The Protocol, Pilot Study and the Manuscript of main study findings of the trial will be disseminated through Scopus indexed peer-reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations.

Trial registration number: Trial acknowledgement number is REF/2025/05/106646 and the registration number for this trial is CTRI/2025/06/088201.