Effect of clinical nursing pathway intervention on postoperative recovery and quality of life in patients with tongue cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of clinical nursing pathway intervention on postoperative language and masticatory function recovery as well as quality of life in patients with tongue cancer. Methods 64 patients with tongue cancer surgically treated in our hospital from March, 2016 to March, 2018 were divided into a control group and an observation group by random number table, 32 cases for each group. The control group was given routine nursing, while observation group was given clinical nursing pathway nursing intervention, including group establishment, lip function training, tongue function training, spring tongue training, jaw function training, language training, swallowing function training, etc. The language function, masticatory function, quality of life, hospital stays, and hospitalization expense were compared between the two groups. Results The satisfaction with language and masticatory function were higher in the observation group han in the control group [96.88% (31/32) vs. 75.00% (24/32) and 96.88% (31/32) vs. 71.88% (23/32); all P<0.05]. The scores of pain, dysphagia, sensory problem, language problem, difficulty in feeding, social deficit, and sexual life were lower in the observation group than in the control group [(1.06±0.73) vs. (2.65±0.42), (1.15±0.89) vs. (2.74±0.53), (1.23±0.39) vs. (2.82±0.46), (1.18±0.36) vs. (2.89±0.57), (1.09±0.28) vs. (2.79±0.67), (0.95±0.32) vs. (2.81±0.47), and (0.83±0.26) vs. (2.41±0.65); all P<0.05]. The hospital stay and hospitalization expense [,] were lower in the observation group than in the control group [(14.13±3.12) d vs. (19.37±6.75) d and (9 875.41±3 403.45)yuan vs. (12 659.43±6 324.79)yuan, both P<0.05]. Conclusion Clinical nursing pathway intervention for patients taking tongue cancer surgery can effectively improve their language and masticatory function as well as quality of life, and reduce hospital stay and expense, and has high feasibility. Key words: Tongue cancer; Clinical nursing pathway intervention; Language function; Masticatory function; Quality of life