Welcome to Francis Academic Press

International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine, 2025, 7(4); doi: 10.25236/IJFM.2025.070407.

Effect of Postoperative Nursing on Quality of Life in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Author(s)

Lei Xu

Corresponding Author:
Lei Xu
Affiliation(s)

School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, T12 K8AF, Cork, Ireland

Abstract

Gastric cancer is a serious malignant tumor that poses a significant threat to human health, with surgery remaining a cornerstone of treatment. However, postoperative patients often experience various complications, including anxiety, limited mobility, and nutritional deficiencies, which significantly impair their quality of life (QoL). Enhancing postoperative care is therefore essential to improve patient outcomes and overall well-being. This review aims to evaluate the impact of different postoperative nursing strategies on the QoL of patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery. Special attention is given to approaches such as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), individualized nutritional support, psychological care, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing. Evidence indicates that these interventions can significantly improve both physiological and psychological recovery, reduce postoperative complications, and accelerate rehabilitation. Specific strategies such as emotional support and early enteral nutrition have been shown to be particularly effective. Comprehensive and individualized postoperative nursing care plays a critical role in enhancing both physical and emotional health outcomes. Future research should prioritize the development of personalized, integrative care models tailored to the diverse needs of gastric cancer patients.

Keywords

Nursing, Postoperative Care, Gastric Cancer, Quality of Life, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Cite This Paper

Lei Xu. Effect of Postoperative Nursing on Quality of Life in Patients with Gastric Cancer. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 4: 45-49. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2025.070407.

References

[1] Siegel R L, Miller K D, Fuchs H E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2022. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 2022, 72(1): 7–33.

[2] Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R L, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 2021, 71(3): 209–249.

[3] Chen J C, Lee W J, Tsou J J, et al. Effect of probiotics on postoperative quality of gastric bypass surgeries: a prospective randomized trial. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 2016, 12(1): 57–61.

[4] Lu H, Zhu L, Tan C. Impact of systematic holistic nursing combined with narrative nursing intervention for patients with advanced gastric cancer on complications and negative emotions. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2022: 1–7.

[5] Fan L, He Y, Li Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention in postoperative patients after gastrectomy. Oncology Letters, 2023, 26(6): 537.

[6] Saito S, Nakamura M, Hosoya Y, et al. Postoperative quality of life and dysfunction in patients after combined total gastrectomy and esophagectomy. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 2017, 22: 34–38.

[7] Nakamura M, Hosoya Y, Umeshita K, et al. Postoperative quality of life: development and validation of the “Dysfunction after Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery” scoring system. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2011, 213(4): 508–514.

[8] Lee K E, Lim K H. Differences in factors affecting the quality of life over time after the gastrectomy in patients with stage I gastric cancer. Gastroenterology Nursing, 2019, 43(3): 241–248.

[9] Liu P, Wang Z. Postoperative anxiety and depression in surgical gastric cancer patients: their longitudinal change, risk factors, and correlation with survival. Medicine, 2022, 101(11): e28765.

[10] Jang A, Jeong O. The impact of the 30-day postoperative complications on the quality of life following gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma: A prospective study. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2023, 49(5): 983–989.

[11] Okuyama A, Kosaka H, Kaibori M, et al. Activities of daily living after surgery among older patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancers: a retrospective observational study using nationwide health services utilisation data from Japan. BMJ Open, 2023, 13(5): e070415.

[12] Gallanis A F, Gamble L A, Samaranayake S G, et al. Costs of Cancer Prevention: Physical and Psychosocial Sequelae of Risk-Reducing Total Gastrectomy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2024, 42(4): 421–430.

[13] Chen F, Chi J, Liu Y, et al. Impact of preoperative sarcopenia on postoperative complications and prognosis of gastric cancer resection: A meta-analysis of cohort studies. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2022, 98:104534.

[14] Wu J, Zhang X X, Zou X, et al. The effect of Decoction and its components on gastric cancer. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019, 235: 56–64.

[15] Ren G, Yang L. The effect of TCM triple rehabilitation and ear acupoint bean pressing on laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer. Medicine, 2024, 103(35): e39423.

[16] Smith T W, Wang X, Singer M A, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery: A clinical review of implementation across multiple surgical subspecialties. The American Journal of Surgery, 2019, 219(3): 530-534.

[17] Li Y Q, Liu Y, Peng Z Q, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery-based nursing in older patients with postoperative intestinal obstruction after gastric cancer surgery: A retrospective study. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 2024, 12(22): 4983–4991.

[18] Wang L, Zhang Q. Effect of the postoperative pain management model on the psychological status and quality of life of patients in the advanced intensive care unit. BMC Nursing, 2024, 23(1): 496.

[19] Gao Q, Li H, Zou Y, et al. Effectiveness of a comprehensive post-operative health education program in improving quality of life after gastric cancer surgery. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 2020, 9(3): 92126–92926.