Effectiveness of Pictorial Education Handout on Tracheostomy Care Self-efficacy in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Family Caregivers: A Pilot Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Learning and performing tracheostomy care are challenging for laypersons. Effective pictorial patient education handouts are needed for nonprofessional individuals to learn health management skills.

Objectives: The study aims to (1) evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the pictorial education handout on patients' and family members' self-efficacy in tracheostomy care and (2) identify demographic, psychological, and education-related factors associated with lower self-efficacy on tracheostomy care.

Interventions/methods: This was a preliminary pilot study with a pretest-posttest design. We recruited a total of 39 participants, including 22 patients with head and neck cancer-related tracheostomy and 17 family caregivers in 2021. All participants received A3-size (297 × 420 mm) pictorial patient education handouts on how to suction and how to clean their tracheostomy at home.

Results: Pictorial education handouts showed a medium to large effect size on self-efficacy in the patient (Cohen D = 0.46) and caregiver participants (Cohen D = 0.78). Participants with higher anxiety were associated with a greater gain in self-efficacy with the pictorial patient education handouts ( r = 0.35, P = .027).

Conclusions: Pictorial patient education handouts were effective tools for improving patients' and family caregivers' confidence in tracheostomy care, and it is particularly helpful for individuals with high anxiety with tracheostomy.

Implication for practice: Clinical nurses should use the pictorial education handouts not only to assist patients and family members on learning and practicing tracheostomy care but also to relieve anxiety associated with tracheostomy care at home.