Effect of integrated medical and nursing intervention model on quality of life and unhealthy emotion of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Objective: To explore the application of integrated medical and nursing intervention model in radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: A total of 78 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=39, receiving traditional separate medical and nursing management) and study group (n=39, receiving integrated medical and nursing intervention mode). Before and after intervention, the mental state, nutritional index, quality of life and self-efficacy were compared between the two groups, and the adverse reactions were recorded during radiotherapy. Results: Compared with those before intervention, the scores of hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) and hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were lower in both groups when they were discharged from hospital, and the study group was lower than the control group (all P<0.05). The scores of comprehensive quality of life assessment questionnaire (GQOLI-74) and self-management efficacy scale (SUPPH) were increased in both groups, and the study group was higher than the control group (all P<0.05). After intervention for 3 weeks, the levels of Hb, TP and Alb in the two groups were higher than those before intervention, and the study group was higher than the control group (all P<0.05). During radiotherapy, the total incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Integrated medical and nursing intervention can obviously relieve the unhealthy emotion and improve the nutritional status, quality of life and self-efficacy for patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy.