Development and Application of a Nurse-Led Preemptive Symptom Management Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Development and Application of a Nurse-Led Preemptive Symptom Management Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

The aim of this study is to investigate whether a nurse-led preemptive symptom management protocol can reduce the radiation therapy interruption rate in patients with head and neck cancer compared to conventional care models.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether a nurse-led preemptive symptom management protocol can reduce the radiation therapy interruption rate in patients with head and neck cancer compared to conventional care models. The secondary objective is to evaluate whether the nurse-led preemptive symptom management protocol improves symptoms, quality of life, and psychological well-being in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy compared to conventional care models.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients had pathologically confirmed malignant head and neck tumors without distant metastasis.
2. Patient age ≥18 years; Patients were scheduled to undergo either postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or radical radiotherapy, with or without concurrent chemotherapy.
3. Baseline ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) score 0-2;
4. Good cognitive and reading skills, able to complete the questionnaire survey.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of other malignant tumors aside from head and neck malignancies;
2. A history of prior head and neck radiotherapy;
3. Mental illness or cognitive impairments;
4. Uncontrolled systemic diseases that could significantly affect their QoL.