Systematic nursing interventions in gastric cancer: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND: Scientific and effective nursing methods can effectively mitigate negative emotions in patients. Related studies have shown that systematic nursing interventions are beneficial in enhancing the self-efficacy and self-care abilities of patients and improving their physical and mental state, thereby alleviating their fatigue and improving their quality of life. AIM: To explore the effects of systematic nursing intervention on cancer-related fatigue, self-efficacy, self-nursing ability, and quality of life in gastric cancer (GC) patients during the perioperative period. METHODS: In this study, sample size was based on the multivariable scale. The sample size was 10 times the acceptable variable, with an additional 20% added to account for an expected loss of patients in follow-up for a final sample size of 168 patients. Conventional nursing measures were used in the control group, while the systematic nursing intervention Adopted Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), General Self-Efficacy Scale-Schwarzer (GSES), Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA), and simple health scale (SF-36) were used in the observation group. The questionnaires were administered on admission and discharge. RESULTS: At admission, there was no statistically significant difference in the scores on each scale between the groups. At discharge, the CFS and GSES scores in the observation group were 21.56 ± 2.24 and 51.16 ± 11.71, while those in the control group were 29.61 ± 3.48 and 41.58 ± 8.54, respectively, with statistically significant differences. The ESCA score in the observation and control groups was 112.09 ± 11.72 and 97.87 ± 9.26, respectively. Moreover, the scores in all dimensions (self-concept, self-responsibility, health knowledge level, and self-care skills) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences. The SF-36 score in the observation and control groups was 75.51 ± 3.63 and 63.24 ± 3.41, respectively, with statistically significant differences. The scores in all dimensions (mental health, vitality, physical function, physical pain, social function, emotional function, and overall health level) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Systemic nursing intervention for GC patients during the perioperative period could alleviate cancer-related fatigue, improve self-efficacy and self-nursing ability, and improve quality of life, which all have clinical value.