Nurse-Led Care Versus Consultant-Led Usual Care in Patients with Thyroid Cancer: A Longitudinal Interventional Study

Abstract

Background: The prognosis of thyroid cancer treatment is unsatisfactory in the presence of different independent parameters, such as older age, which may worsen the quality of life and mental health of patients. It is necessary to improve the quality of life and mental health of patients with thyroid cancer. Objectives: This study evaluated the nurse-led care impact as psycho-oncological support on anxiety and quality of life of patients with a history of thyroid cancer, comparing it to a consultant-led usual care and a non-care. Methods: Patients received half an hour of nurse-led care (NC cohort, n = 105), or consultant-led usual care (UC cohort, n = 125), or did not receive healthcare professional-led care (PO cohort, n = 135) at the institute during treatment and a follow-up period of 12 months. The EORTC QLQ-C30 Chinese version was used to assess the quality of life. Anxiety and depression were evaluated, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Before the healthcare professional-led care, the quality of life scale score was 35 (36 - 33) and all patients had definitive anxiety and depression (scale score ≥ 11). After 12 months of the healthcare professional-led care, patients in the NC cohort showed improved quality of life and decreased anxiety and depression as compared to them before the healthcare professional-led care conditions and those of patients in the UC and PO cohorts after 12 months of the healthcare professional-led care (P < 0.001 for all). A higher number of patients survived in the NC cohort than in the UC (P = 0.0327) and PO (P = 0.0014) cohorts. Personal satisfaction of patients was higher in the NC cohort than in the UC and PO cohorts (P < 0.001 for both). Patient satisfaction was higher in the UC cohort than in the PO cohort (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Supportive cancer care after surgery or during follow-up is necessary in patients with thyroid cancer. Nurse-led care had beneficial effects on the quality of life, psychological conditions, survival, and personal satisfaction of patients with thyroid cancer during the follow-up period.