161. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TELEPHONE AND INTERNET-BASED SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER ON ENHANCED RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY IN CHINA

Abstract

Abstract Esophageal cancer patients face problems related to eating and surgery-related symptoms. The eating-related problems are characterized by dysphagia, appetite loss, and nausea/vomiting linked to anatomic changes and the reconfiguration of their upper GI tract. Of all the surgery-related problems, 30% of patients reported fatigue/pain symptom cluster (pain, fatigue, insomnia, dyspnea), and 27% of patients reported the reflux/cough cluster (dry mouth, taste changes, cough, reflux). Evidence shows that the supportive care needs of esophageal cancer patients are very high. The study was designed as an open-label, randomized controlled trial to value the efficacy of a nurse-led supportive care program in comparison with conventional care. The control group received conventional care. Patients from the intervention group received conventional care and one-on-one phone calls from nurses following their discharge assessments and education about nutrition and symptoms. Nurses also set up a WeChat group, which they invited patients to join in before discharge. Nutritional status, quality of life, the helpfulness of the follow-up service, and the patients’ satisfaction were compared 6 months after discharge to assess for differences between the two groups. 168 patients were included in the study, with 86 patients in the intervention group and 82 in the control group. Significant differences between the intervention and control groups were found in the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 and simple diet self-assessment tool scores. The changes in blood albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin were also statistically significant. All QLQ-C30 results of the intervention group were better than those of the control group. The patients’ scores on the helpfulness of the follow-up service and their satisfaction with it were both significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. This study highlighted the important role of nurse-led supportive care based on telephone and Internet-based support for patients after ERAS. The supportive care improved patients’ nutritional status, elevated their quality of life, and improved their satisfaction with the care provided to them.