The study of transitional care on the psychological state of patients with advanced lung cancer chemotherapy

Abstract

Background

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with an advanced stage need to face negative effects from chemotherapy, dread of dying, weakened role function and physical and mental suffering.

Objectives

To examine the effect of transitional care on the psychological state of patients with advanced lung cancer chemotherapy.

Methods

Seventy-two patients with advanced lung cancer who underwent chemotherapy in our hospital were arbitrarily split into the experimental group (30 cases) and the control group (31 cases). The control group received routine discharge care, whereas the experimental group received transitional care. The scores were compared before the first chemotherapy, the day after the end of the first-cycle chemotherapy, and the third week after the end of the 4-week chemotherapy according to SCL-90, PSS, PFE-R, SES, QLQ-C30, the rate of unplanned re-diagnosis and nursing satisfactory.

Results

There was no significant difference in all aspects of scores between the two groups before and after chemotherapy (P > 0.05). Whereas there were significant differences in emotional function, fatigue, insomnia, depression and interpersonal sensitivity between the two groups after 4 cycles of chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The scores of PSS and PFE-R decreased significantly in the two groups, and the SES and QLQ-C30 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05).

Findings

Applying transitional care intervention can lessen patients’ negative emotions since being discharged with advanced lung cancer following chemotherapy and diminish the rate of unplanned re-diagnosis.