Optimal adjuvant chemotherapy completion time for stage III colon cancer: a cohort study

A pilot retrospective study of comprehensive nursing care on psychological disorder in colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

This pilot study retrospectively evaluated the effects of comprehensive nursing care (CNC) on psychological disorders in patients with colorectal cancer (CC) undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

This study analyzed 70 eligible patients' case records of CC undergoing chemotherapy. These records were allocated to a treatment group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 35). All 70 patients in both groups received routine nursing care. In addition, 35 patients in the treatment group also received CNC. The primary outcomes were anxiety, as measured by Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and depression, as assessed by Self-rating Depression Scale. The secondary outcomes were quality of life, as measured by The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and adverse events. All outcome data were analyzed before and 3-month after treatment.

RESULTS

At 3-month after treatment, the patients in the treatment group had better outcomes in the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (P<0.01), Self-rating Depression Scale (P<0.01), and The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (social function, P = .04; emotional role, P = 0.03) than those in the control group. With regard to safety, no treatment-related adverse events were recorded in either group.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this pilot retrospective study showed promising effects of CNC on psychological disorders and quality of life in patients with CC undergoing chemotherapy. However, more high-quality clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.