Effects of nostalgic therapy on discharge pressure, coping styles and fatigue in gastric cancer family caregivers

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of nostalgic therapy on discharge pressure, coping styles and fatigue in gastric cancer family caregivers. Methods A total of 86 hospitalized and discharged patients with gastric cancer in our hospital were selected from January 2013 to October 2014, and the main caregivers of per patient were selected. A total of 86 caregivers were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, 43 cases in each group. The control group caregivers received routine health education. The caregivers of experimental group received intervention therapy on the basis of routine health education. Anxiety, depression, degree of positive feelings and sense of burden of two groups in caregivers were compared. Results SAS, SDS scores of control group were significantly higher than those in the experimental group (P<0.05). PAC total score, self-esteem dimension score, life outlook dimension scored of control group′s caregivers were significantly lower than that of the experimental group (P<0.05). Experimental group caregivers′ CBI scores was (21.90±8.35), lower than that of the control group (50.28±10.90), and the score of the classification was also significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The application of the nostalgia therapy in the family caregivers of gastric cancer patients can relieve the anxiety, depression and the burden of the caregivers, and increase the positive experience of the patients. Key words: Gastric cancer; Caregiver; Burden; Anxiety; Depression; Nostalgia therapy