Application effect of early palliative care program in hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Objective To explore the application effect of early palliative care program in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Methods Eighty-six hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy treated in He'nan Cancer Hospital from November 2015 to August 2016 were divided according to random number table into experimental group and control group, each with 43 cases. Patients in the control group were nursed according to conventional nursing method for esophageal cancer, while on this basis, palliative care was conducted to patients in the experimental group. After 2 months of nursing, treatment compliance, scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) , Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) , and quality of life were compared between the two groups, as well as their hospitalization expenses. Results During the treatment, percentage of patients who cooperated positively, reluctantly and negatively in the experimental group was 62.8%, 27.9% and 9.3%, while in the control group 25.6%, 46.5% and 27.9% (t=4.123, P<0.05) . After treatment, HAMA scores and HAMD scores in the experimental group were (11.63±4.28) points and (16.33±3.03) , while in the control group (15.99±3.02) and (25.93±2.94) (t=2.374, 2.374; P<0.05) ; scores of life quality and hospitalization expenses in the experimental group were (102.37±5.93) points and (98 264.47±3 274.33) Yuan, while in the control group (84.34±7.44) and (121 637.01±3 927.03) (t=2.448, 2.592; P<0.05) . Conclusions For patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy, early palliative care program can reduce degree of anxiety, depression and hospital costs, and improve their quality of life. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; Quality of life; Palliative care; Radiotherapy