Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of traditional and enhanced nursing models in the perioperative care of patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with esophageal cancer treated from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected by convenient sampling method for this retrospective study. They were categorized into the traditional care model and the improved care model with 49 patients in each group. The traditional care received standard care, and the improved care model group received the improved care model. The improved care group, on the basis of routine perioperative care, provided psychological intervention and cough training to patients before surgery. After surgery, sedation intervention, pipeline fixation, assistance for early patient activity and early enteral nutrition were given according to the assessment of the patients' conditions. Satisfaction with care, postoperative complications, postoperative ambulation time, length of hospitalization, and total hospital costs were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The nursing satisfaction rate in the enhanced care group was 93.98%, significantly higher than the 87.67% observed in the traditional care group (χ² = 4.210, p < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was notably lower in the enhanced care group (6.12%) compared to the traditional care group (34.69%) (χ² = 9.800, p < 0.05). Additionally, the enhanced care group demonstrated shorter postoperative ambulation time by an average of 1.38 days (t = -9.082, p < 0.05), reduced hospital stay by 3 days (t = -5.658, p < 0.05), and lower hospitalization costs by RMB 3,906 (t = -5.510, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The implementation of an enhanced perioperative nursing model for patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery is associated with reduced postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and decreased healthcare costs. Standardizing and optimizing nursing care protocols may improve patient outcomes and overall satisfaction with perioperative care.