chemotherapy result in many bothersome physical adverse effects and psychosocial problems,
which negatively impact patients' quality of life (QoL). Effective self-care education about
chemotherapy's adverse effects aids patients in better managing them, adapting to chemotherapy,
and improving treatment outcomes. Furthermore, boosting cancer patients' confidence about their
ability on performing self-care strategies could have a significant impact in enhancing their
functioning role and quality of life. Study aim: evaluate the effectiveness of self-care practices
education program on enhancing chemotherapy adverse effects and quality of life for patients with
gastric cancer. Study Design: a quasi-experimental design. Setting: Oncology and chemotherapy
outpatient clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals, Al Sharkia governorate, Egypt. Subject: A
Purposive sample of 50 adult patients with GC receiving chemotherapy. Tools: Interview
questionnaire, Self-reported chemotherapy adverse effects questionnaire, Self-care practices
questionnaire, and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire to measure patients' QoL. Results: the highest
percentage of studied patients (54%, 56%, 56%, 36.0%, and 52%) were
urban, had mid qualification and smokers respectively. There was a statistically significant
difference and improvement in patients' total knowledge, chemotherapy adverse effects, self-care
practices toward these adverse effects, and quality of life at the post-intervention phase of the
program as compared to the pre-intervention phase (p=0.0001). Patients' knowledge and self-care
practices improvement correlated positively with QoL and negatively with chemotherapy adverse
effects that correlated negatively with QoL. Conclusions: Self-care practices education program
had an effective role in improving knowledge and self-care practices of patients with GC toward
chemotherapy adverse-effects, which resulted in decreasing these adverse-effects and enhancing
their quality of life. Recommendations: Availability of Self-care practices education programs and
guidebooks in all Egyptian Oncology Centers for patients with GC is recommended to inform them
about chemotherapy adverse effects and self-care strategies to handle it in a specific and
comprehensive manner.