Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of group guided training management on disease cognition and fear of disease progression, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy for head and neck tumors. METHODS: A total of 88 patients diagnosed with malignant head and neck tumors who were admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2020 to February 2021 were included as the subjects of this study. Patients receiving standard care were set as the control group (n=43), and patients undergoing group education were set as the study group (n=45). The fear of disease progression, level of hope, nutritional status, knowledge, attitude, behaviors, quality of life, self-management efficacy, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Factors affecting patient's prognosis were also analyzed. RESULTS: Group guided management for chemotherapy patients with head and neck tumors significantly reduced the fear of disease progression in the study group compared to the control group (P=0.010). Additionally, the study group showed significantly higher levels of hope (P=0.006), nutritional status (P=0.019), nutritional knowledge (P=0.006), positive attitude (P=0.007), and health behavior (P=0.032) than those in the control group. The incidence of malnutrition at 1 month and 3 months after intervention (P=0.005, P=0.009) and adverse reactions (P=0.001) in the study group were significantly lower than those in control group. Furthermore, the quality of life (P=0.011) and self-management efficacy (P=0.008, P=0.019) in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Nursing interventions and self-efficacy were identified as independent risk factors for fear of disease progression and hope level (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A group management model, through specialized health education and guidance, can significantly reduce patient's fear of disease progression, alleviate negative emotions, enhance their self-management ability, and improve quality of life. This approach fosters a proactive attitude toward treatment and contributes to better therapeutic outcomes.