Efficacy of comprehensive nursing in patients with pneumoconiosis and its influence on quality of life

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of comprehensive nursing for patients with pneumoconiosis and its influence on patients' quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Sixty-two patients with pneumoconiosis diagnosed and treated in the Henan Provincial Institute for Occupational Health (Henan No. 3 Provicial People's Hospital) from October 2018 to October 2019 were included in this retrospective study. According to the nursing model, patients receiving comprehensive nursing were included in the experimental group (n=31) and those receiving general care were included in the reference group (n=31). The pulmonary function (PF) indices, QoL score, emotional score and health behavior compliance were compared between the two groups before and after nursing.

Results: (1) A significantly higher overall response rate was determined in the experimental group compared with the reference group (P<0.05). (2) There were no significant differences in heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation between the two groups before nursing intervention (P>0.05). After nursing, significantly lower HR and higher oxygen saturation were observed in the experimental group compared with the reference group (all P<0.05). (3) The PF indexes also showed no significant differences between the two groups before nursing (P>0.05). After nursing, the experimental group exhibited higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second percent predicted (FEV1%_pred), forced vital capacity percent predicted (FVC%_pred), and blood oxygen partial pressure than the reference group, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). (4) The two groups showed similar QoL before nursing (P>0.05). After nursing, the experimental group scored significantly higher in physiological function, mental health, social function and vitality than the reference group (P<0.05). (5) The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, which were not statistically different between groups before nursing (P>0.05), were significantly lower in the experimental group after nursing compared with reference group (P<0.05). (6) The compliance of medication, diet, respiratory training and home oxygen therapy was higher in the experimental group compared with the reference group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Comprehensive nursing care for patients with pneumoconiosis can effectively enhance the curative effect, PF and QoL of patients, improve their HR, oxygen saturation and mood, and enhance their compliance with health behaviors.

Keywords: Pneumoconiosis; comprehensive nursing; quality of life.