Influence of humanistic care-based operating room nursing on safety, recovery, and satisfaction after radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND Radical surgery is a preferred treatment for colorectal carcinoma, wherein nursing intervention is essential for postoperative recovery and prevention of complications. Recently, the application of humanistic care in medical care has attracted attention. Humanistic care emphasizes comprehensive care, with importance attached to patients’ physical needs as well as psychological and emotional support to provide more humane and personalized care services. However, no clinical reports have examined the use of humanistic care in patients undergoing radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma. AIM To investigate the influence of humanistic care-based operating room nursing on the safety, postoperative recovery, and nursing satisfaction of patients who have undergone radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma. METHODS In total, 120 patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between August 2023 and March 2024 were selected and grouped based on the nursing methods employed. Of these patients, 55 were treated with routine nursing intervention (control group) and 65 were provided humanistic care-based operating room nursing (research group). The patients’ vital signs were recorded, including systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and heart beats per minute (BPM), as well as serum stress indices, including norepinephrine (NE), adrenal hormone (AD), and cortisol (Cor). Postoperative recovery and complications were also recorded. Patients’ negative emotions, life hope, and nursing satisfaction were evaluated using the Self-rating Depression/Anxiety Scale (SDS/SAS), Herth Hope Index (HHI), and self-developed nursing satisfaction questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS During emergence from anesthesia, SBP, DBP, and BPM levels were found to be lower in the research group than those in the control group, also serum Cor, AD, and NE levels were lower. In addition, the research group had shorter operative, awakening, anal exhaust, first postoperative ambulation, drainage tube removal, intestinal recovery, and hospital times. The total complication rate and the SDS and SAS scores were lower in the research group than those in the control group. The HHI and nursing satisfaction scores were higher in the research group. CONCLUSION Humanistic care-based operating room nursing can mitigate physiological stress responses, reduce postoperative complications, promote postoperative recovery, relieve adverse psychological emotions, and enhance life hope and nursing satisfaction in patients undergoing radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma, which can be popularized in clinical practice.