Psychological stress and nursing inventions in patients with digestive system tumors

Article ID: 4155

70 Views

Keywords: psychological stress; digestive system tumors; telepsychiatric support; survivorship challenges; technology-enhanced care models

Abstract

Psychological stress is one of the common concomitant symptoms in patients with digestive system tumors. Based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping proposed by Lazarus and Folkman, individuals will undergo primary assessment (judging whether the stressor is threatening) and secondary assessment (assessing their own resources to cope with the stress) when facing stressors. For cancer patients, the disease itself and its treatment process are often regarded as important stressors, and their coping ability is affected by many factors, such as psychological resilience and social support. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the cognitive assessment process and coping strategies of patients is of great significance for the formulation of effective psychological intervention measures. Recent empirical studies have increasingly elucidated the multifaceted psychological burden experienced by patients with digestive system malignancies, including gastric, colorectal, and hepatocellular carcinomas. Systematic reviews of 127 randomized controlled trials published between 2018–2023 in databases like PubMed and Cochrane Library reveal that these patients exhibit significantly elevated levels of anxiety (prevalence rate 72.4%), depression (68.9%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (41.3%) compared to non-cancer populations. Our integrative analysis further demonstrates that evidence-based nursing interventions implemented through hierarchical frameworks yield superior outcomes. Specifically, tiered approaches combining cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) at the primary level, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and music therapy at the secondary level, and telepsychiatric support via AI-driven platforms at the tertiary level, demonstrate a 37% reduction in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting severity. Notably, a pilot study incorporating real-time physiological monitoring through wearable devices revealed that patients receiving personalized psychosocial support exhibited 42% higher adherence to oral antineoplastic medications and a 29% improvement in Karnofsky performance status scores. These findings collectively underscore the critical role of technology-enhanced, patient-centered care models in addressing the unmet psychological needs of oncology patients, ultimately optimizing treatment trajectories and survival outcomes.