The application of traditional Chinese medicine nursing combined with the health education standard path in acute myeloid leukaemia

OBJECTIVE: The standard path of health education is a standardised health education method formulated according to the characteristics of the disease in question. This study aimed to explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing combined with the health education standard path in terms of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). METHODS: Sixty patients with AML at Shijiazhuang Ping'an Hospital were recruited and divided into the control group (n = 30) and the intervention group (n = 30). Both groups received the same chemotherapy treatment, while the control group received routine nursing and the intervention group received a combined TCM–health education standard path intervention. The scores for the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), Spitzer quality of life index (QLI), self-rating depression scale (SDS), awareness of TCM health education standard path content and nursing satisfaction were then compared. RESULTS: The SAS and SDS scores of the patients decreased following the intervention, while the QLI score increased, with the intervention group significantly improved compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The awareness of TCM health education standard path content was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the nursing satisfaction was also higher in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the hospitalisation cost and length of stay were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the median survival time between the intervention group and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of TCM combined with the health education standard path has an effect in terms of reducing patients' anxiety and depression, improving their awareness of health education content and enhancing their nursing satisfaction.