Reminiscence therapy care program as a potential nursing intervention to relieve anxiety, depression, and quality of life in older papillary thyroid carcinoma patients: A randomized, controlled study

Abstract

ObjectiveReminiscence therapy (RT) ameliorates psychological problems and quality of life in cancer patients. However, no study reports its effect on older papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. This study intended to investigate the effect of the RT-care program (CP) on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and survival in older PTC patients.MethodsEighty-six postoperative older PTC patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to RT-CP group (N = 44) and usual (U)-CP group (N = 42) as a 1:1 ratio for a 6-month intervention. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) scores were assessed at baseline, month (M)1, M2, M4, and M6.ResultsHADS and QLQ-C30 scores at baseline were not different between two groups. Additionally, HADS-anxiety score at M6 (p = 0.029), and HADS-depression score at M2 (p = 0.030), M4 (p = 0.029), M6 (p = 0.012) were reduced in RT-CP group versus U-CP group. Meanwhile, anxiety and depression rates from M1 to M6 were slightly decreased in RT-CP group versus U-CP group but did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, depression severity at M6 was reduced in RT-CP group versus U-CP group (p = 0.049). Besides, QLQ-C30 global health status was increased at M2 (p = 0.023) and M6 (p = 0.033), QLQ-C30 function score was elevated at M2 (p = 0.040) and M4 (p = 0.035), while QLQ-C30 symptom score was decreased at M2 (p = 0.046) in RT-CP group versus U-CP group. Moreover, disease-free survival and overall survival were not different between two groups.ConclusionRT-CP may be a potential intervention for ameliorating anxiety, depression, and quality of life in older PTC patients.

Editorial: Improving quality of life in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

“…The survival rate of DTC patients has increased in recent decades with the development of multidisciplinary screening and treatment methods ( 2 ). Thyroid cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 40s, which means that these women live longer after completing treatment ( 3 ). The increase in thyroid cancer is mainly due to the discovery of thyroid microcarcinoma, and despite the increase in diagnoses, survival rates have not changed ( 4 ).…”

“…After completion of primary treatment, patients with DTC can usually remain healthy and return to their former lives ( 3 , 4 ). However, in the transitional phase after completion of primary treatment, DTC patients may suffer varying degrees of long-term physical, social and psychological problems that make their survival much more difficult ( 2 ).…”

“…In addition to objective factors that have an obvious impact on quality life, such as postoperative complications, recurrence, etc., subjective quality of life, i.e. patient-centred factors in treatment options for DTC, has become an important topic in recent clinical trials (1)(2)(3)(4). This index distinguishes between general and diseasespecific quality of life in terms of the spectrum of life domains affected.…”

“…Factors influencing the quality of life of DTC patients include physical and psychological symptoms, self-efficacy and social support (2,3). Close counselling and education of DTC patients, care and symptom control have been shown to be particularly important (1)(2)(3)(4). Particular attention needs to be paid to the early management of postoperative morbidity (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

“…Close counselling and education of DTC patients, care and symptom control have been shown to be particularly important (1)(2)(3)(4). Particular attention needs to be paid to the early management of postoperative morbidity (1)(2)(3)(4). Postoperative management has improved, but long-term data, especially on quality of life, are needed (5,6).…”