Ling Li1, Zhulin Gao2, Liang Guo3. 1. MSN, RN, Supervisor, Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Taiwan, ROC. 2. BSN, RN, Associate Professor of Nursing, Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Taiwan, ROC. 3. MSN, RN, Supervisor, Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Taiwan, ROC. 541102368@qq.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal cancer is one of the higher-incidence malignant tumors worldwide. A majority of patients with gastrointestinal cancer receive chemotherapy, with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) serving as the main infusion instrument. Little research has addressed the issue of post-catheterization comfort in patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the comfort status of patients with gastrointestinal cancer at a tertiary hospital in China after PICC catheterization and to analyze the influencing factors. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were currently receiving initial chemotherapy were recruited from a third-class hospital in Changsha City from June 2018 to August 2019. Patients received ultrasound-guided PICC catheterization and were then investigated one-month later using a general demographics questionnaire, comfort evaluation scale, Cancer Patients PICC Self-management Scale, and complications evaluation scale. RESULTS: Ninety-one effective questionnaires were received (recovery rate: 100%). The total comfort score was 34.99 ± 4.07, with 10 patients (11.0%) reporting 'general comfort' and 81 patients (89.0%) reported 'comfort'. The average score for self-management ability was 151.55 ± 18.33. Nineteen patients (20.9%) had blood leakage and 7 (7.7%) had catheter prolapse. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the limb used for catheterization, self-management ability, and occupation were the factors that significantly influenced degree of comfort in the participants (p < .05), predicting 21.9% of the total comfort score. CONCLUSIONS: The overall comfort level of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after PICC catheterization was comfort. In clinical work, nurses should choose the left limb based on patient wishes, pay attention to improving the self-management ability of patients, and provide appropriate nursing suggestions for patients who are wage earners to improve post-catheterization comfort.
BACKGROUND:Gastrointestinal cancer is one of the higher-incidence malignant tumors worldwide. A majority of patients with gastrointestinal cancer receive chemotherapy, with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) serving as the main infusion instrument. Little research has addressed the issue of post-catheterization comfort in patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the comfort status of patients with gastrointestinal cancer at a tertiary hospital in China after PICC catheterization and to analyze the influencing factors. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were currently receiving initial chemotherapy were recruited from a third-class hospital in Changsha City from June 2018 to August 2019. Patients received ultrasound-guided PICC catheterization and were then investigated one-month later using a general demographics questionnaire, comfort evaluation scale, CancerPatients PICC Self-management Scale, and complications evaluation scale. RESULTS: Ninety-one effective questionnaires were received (recovery rate: 100%). The total comfort score was 34.99 ± 4.07, with 10 patients (11.0%) reporting 'general comfort' and 81 patients (89.0%) reported 'comfort'. The average score for self-management ability was 151.55 ± 18.33. Nineteen patients (20.9%) had blood leakage and 7 (7.7%) had catheter prolapse. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the limb used for catheterization, self-management ability, and occupation were the factors that significantly influenced degree of comfort in the participants (p < .05), predicting 21.9% of the total comfort score. CONCLUSIONS: The overall comfort level of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after PICC catheterization was comfort. In clinical work, nurses should choose the left limb based on patient wishes, pay attention to improving the self-management ability of patients, and provide appropriate nursing suggestions for patients who are wage earners to improve post-catheterization comfort.